More than two years after road access and electrical power to the Mauna Loa Observatory was cut off by lava flows, NOAA staff continue to make critical measurements of the atmosphere and other environmental variables at the remote site.
In 2023, observatory staff installed solar panels at the site and resumed some measurements, including the independent carbon dioxide monitoring programs run by the Global Monitoring Laboratory and Scripps Institution of Oceanography, as well as other atmospheric measurements.
Construction of a temporary road to access the observatory site is anticipated to begin in summer 2025.
Media can contact: Theo Stein (303) 819-7409 (theo.stein@noaa.gov)
Earth System Research Laboratory: Introduction
Mauna Loa Science Fair Award, 2017
Every year MLO contributes to the local Science Fair event. This year we awarded two recipients, LELA DEVINE won the junior research award with their project titled: THE EFFECTS OF TURBIDITY ON THE COLOR SPECTRUM AT DIFFERENT DEPTHS and MARA R. HON won the second award with her project titled: THE EFFECTS OF MOON PHASES ON GLOBAL SEISMIC ACTIVITY. The Senior division also had two research recipients KALANI V. SCHEFFLER won the senior division award with his project titled: THE EFFECT OF VOG ON PLANT DIVERSITY. Marybeth DeRego won the second award with her project titled: Sewage Pollution in Groundwater.
Aidan presenting Lela C. Devine with her award.
The Effects of Turbidity on the Color Spectrum at Different Depths
Darryl presenting Mara R. Hon with her award.
The Effects of Moon Phases on Global Seismic Activity
Darryl and Aidan presenting Kalani Scheffler with his award
The Effect of Vog on Plant Diversity
Aidan and Darryl presents Marybeth DeRego with her award.
Sewage Pollution in Groundwater
