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)
Visiting Scientists
* All downloadable documents are in Adobe Reader (.pdf) format
Work Visitation
- If you need to schedule a visit to MLO for project maintenance or other work-related reasons, please contact Aidan Colton by email or phone (808-933-6965 x233).
Request A New Project
- If you are setting up a new MLO research project, please download and complete the Baseline Observatory Cooperative Agreement Form. This form is required by the NOAA ESRL GML.
General Information and Logistics
- "Information for Visiting Cooperative Investigators and ESRL Staff" [ download ]
This document describes how to apply for a new program, and also lists details for scheduling a visit to MLO (such as contact information, lodging, car rental, food, utilities, medical attention, internet service, power availability, and work environment). It also covers transporting work materials and equipment to and from the observatory. - "Important Things to Remember When Visiting MLO" [ download ] [ online ]
This information serves as a general preparation checklist for anyone visiting the observatory. Special attention is given to what you can expect while at our high altitude site, and what you will need to do beforehand to prepare.