ESRL Global Monitoring Laboratory - Mauna Loa Observatory

Measurements at the Mauna Loa Observatory stopped after the 2022 eruption of the Mauna Loa volcano, when lava flow crossed the access road and took out power lines to the facility. The observatory remains inaccessible by vehicle and without power from the local utility company.

Observatory staff has established limited solar power in four observatory buildings and restored approximately 33 percent of the measurements onsite, including the Global Monitoring Laboratory and Scripps critical CO₂ records and other atmospheric measurements.

Media can contact: Theo Stein (303) 819-7409 (theo.stein@noaa.gov) or Karin Vergoth 303-632-6413‬ (karin.vergoth@noaa.gov)

Organization(s):

DHS logo US Department of Homeland Security (previously US Department of Energy)

What does this program measure?

Hi-volume radionuclides.

How does this program work?

The samples are obtained by high-volume air filtration using micro-carbon filters. Weekly average samples are obtained.

Analysis is done in the DOE NYC laboratories. MLO results are combined with similar samples taken at Point Barrow, Alaska (BRW), American Samoa (SMO), and South Pole Observatory (SPO). Similar filter samples are collected at the other CMDL observatories.

Why is this research important?

Since January 1963, the Environmental Measurements Laboratory (EML) has conducted the Surface Air Sampling Program (SASP) to study the spatial and temporal distribution of specific natural and anthropogenic radionuclides in the surface ambient air.