American Samoa Observatory Tour
Around the Grounds: Roof Top

 

Lafaele Silao and Dobson Dome. In December 1998 this dome replaced the previous dome and coated with rust preventative paint.
(Photo by J. Michalski)
Malcolm Gaylord, station electronics engineer, inside the Dome conducting Dobson Measurements. The total ozone values recorded by Dobson values for American Samoa between 2000 to 2002 ranged from 220-250 DU uncorrected values. For more total ozone information see: Insert NOAA GMD Ozone page here.
(Photo by J. Michalski)
South end of rooftop at dusk. Visible back to front are the Dobson dome, the DOE Cooperative project: , and the GMD tipping rain rain gage. The peak located in the background is Olomoana Mountain at 1,074 feet. (Photo by P. Roberts)

North end of rooftop. The north end of the rooftop is the location of the solar instruments. These continuously monitoring instruments inclued:

  • Epply pyranolmeters with Q and RG8 filters
  • Epply pyrheliometer with Q filter
  • Epply pyranometers with shading disk and Q filter
  • Noncontinous is the Epply pyrehliometer with Q, OG1, RG2, and RG8 filters located inside the dobson dome.

For more solar information see GMD's Solar Radiation Page.
(Photo by P. Roberts)

Solar panels located on carport. These panels were removed from their historic location on the southeast side of the observatory, refurbished and reinstalled as a cooperative project between NOAA, American Samoa Community College, American Samoa Power Authority, the Territorial Energy Office, and Starkist Inc during 2001.
(Photo by P. Roberts)

Areas to visit:
[Samoa Home] [Observatory] [Hudson Building] [Observatory Rooftop] [Bluesky Tower] [Stairway & Point]