The Mauna Loa Observatory in Hawaii, established by scientist Charles David Keeling in 1958, has been a pivotal site for tracking atmospheric CO2, revealing human impact through fossil fuel combustion. As the observatory faces potential closure due to proposed budget cuts, scientists express grave concerns about the loss of valuable climate data. The observatory's long-term records of greenhouse gases like CO2, methane, and nitrous oxide are crucial for understanding climate interactions, and its unique contributions cannot be replicated by satellite monitoring.
In 1958, scientist Charles David Keeling began monitoring carbon dioxide levels at the Mauna Loa Observatory in Hawaii, providing the first clear evidence that humans were increasing atmospheric CO2 by burning fossil fuels.
International scientists warn that the loss to global climate research would be huge if the observatory closes. Mauna Loa has "an incredible data record about how things interact in the atmosphere," said Cressie, pointing to its measurements of carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide greenhouse gases that cause climate change.
Collection
[
|
...
]