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)
Organization(s):
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Earth System Research Laboratory (ESRL)
What does this program measure?
The Pollak CNC was a manual unit which used water vapor to produce counts in a Condensation Nuclei Counter (CNC). When the Pollak CNC was in operation at MLO, the TSI instrument (Thermo Systems Incorporated) was compared to the Pollak CNC once a day. The TSI unit is a continuous-expansion CNC (see CMDL Aerosols) by which particle number concentration is determined when particles are exposed the to a high super saturation of butanol vapor. This causes the particles to grow to a size where they can be detected optically and counted. The instruments in use have lower particle-size detection limits of 10-20 nm diameter.
How does this program work?
CMDL's General Operations Manual for our Aerosol Systems will describe precisely how these measurements took place. The project involved the Pollak Condensation Nuclei Counter, which measured daily at Mauna Loa Observatory.
Why is this research important?
Are there any trends in the data?
How does this program fit into the big picture?
What is it's role in global climate change?
Comments and References
This project is no longer active.
Lead Investigator(s):
none
MLO Contact(s):
Dr. John E Barnes
808-933-6965 (x222)
Web Site(s)
not applicable
Date Started
RETIRED
Related Programs
Air Quality Control
NOAA ESRL
Retired
Photographs:
