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Hawaii's Mauna Loa Observatory
This page will be devoted to Hawaii's Mauna Loa Observatory and its history. Please stay tuned for information and photographs about this historic observatory, which has just celebrated its 50th anniversary.
Mauna Loa Observatory
The Mauna Loa Observatory (MLO) was dedicated on 28 June 1956 by some 80 people who made the difficult drive from Hilo. The observatory is at an elevation of 3,400 meters (11,200 feet) on the north slope of the giant Mauna Loa volcano, earth's largest single mountain mass.
I have been calibrating various atmospheric instruments at MLO at least once each year since 1992. Some of this research will be described on this page, which will be expanded to include more about the history of this most famous of NOAA's observatories.
Sunset at the Mauna Loa Observatory. Copyright by Forrest M. Mims III.
The Mauna Loa Observatory lidar probes the stratosphere on 5 December 2006. Copyright by Forrest M. Mims III.
The air sampling tower at Mauna Loa Observatory is 120 feet high. Copyright by Forrest M. Mims III.
Mauna Loa Observatory as seen from the meteorological tower. Copyright by Forrest M. Mims III.
The Mauna Loa Observatory with Mauna Kea in the background. Copyright by Forrest M. Mims III.
The Mauna Loa Observatory with Mauna Kea in the background. Copyright by Forrest M. Mims III.
NDSC (Network for Detection of Stratospheric Change) building (1997) at the Mauna Loa Observatory. The ozone layer, UV-B, atmospheric transmission and column water vapor are monitored from the rooftop deck at right. Copyright by Forrest M. Mims III.
Mauna Loa Observatory Lidar
Dr. John Barnes has been probing the stratosphere over the Mauna Loa Observatory for more than 13 years. The brilliant green beam of his laser is scattered by aerosols back to a telescope that focuses the light onto a sensitive photomultiplier tube.
Dr. Barnes has monitored aerosols from volcanoes, dust and air pollution from China and water vapor. Some of his measurements are timed to match overpasses by NASA's Aura satellite.
The lidar and other instruments at MLO will be eventually explained on this page. Photographs will be included.
Dr. John Barnes conducts a lidar session at the Mauna Loa Observatory. Copyright by Forrest M. Mims III.
Clouds rise up toward the Mauna Loa Observatory. Copyright by Forrest M. Mims III.
