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)
Until January 2006, the MLO main office was located in the historic Federal Building in downtown Hilo (154 Waianuenue Avenue). This location provided office space for the staff, repair and maintenance laboratories, data processing and analysis facilities, administrative and communications centers for MLO operations. The Hilo office network was connected to the mountain observatory network through a dedicated Internet connection encompassing in excess of 30 computers.
The Hilo Federal Building, constructed in the 1930's, has high interior ceilings and beautiful stonework and solid wooden doors. The views from the office windows are generally of a park or cloud shrouded Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea mountains. The central courtyard of the building has a fountain spouting water from frogs' mouths.