National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA Boulder)
Mauna Loa Baseline Observatory
facilityobservatory / field siteIndustry: Aerospace
- Category
- Physical Infrastructure
- Affiliations
- NOAA Boulder
Description
Atmospheric research observatory on the north flank of Mauna Loa Volcano on Hawaii's Big Island, at 3,397 m, that has continuously monitored atmospheric change since the 1950s. It sits above the marine temperature inversion, so it samples clean free-troposphere air for monitoring climate-related constituents, and it has supported hundreds of cooperative research programs. The 2022 eruption cut road access; a temporary access road was finished on 26 March 2026, but the site is not open to the public and it is unclear when power will be re-established.
Official page
https://gml.noaa.gov/obop/mlo/
Open official page (opens in a new tab)Contact
Details
- Keywords
- long-term atmospheric monitoring, climate change research, clean air monitoring, high-altitude observatory, baseline observatories, cooperative research programs
- Location
- Mauna Loa Volcano, Hawaii
- Location
- place named in page text: Mauna Loa
- Associated entity
- NOAA Global Monitoring Laboratory