Mauna Loa Observatory
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The Mauna Loa Observatory (MLO) is an atmospheric baseline station on Mauna Loa volcano, on the big island of Hawaii. Since 1957 MLO has been continuously monitoring and collecting data relating to atmospheric change, and is known especially for their continuous monitoring of atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) levels. The observatory is under the Climate Monitoring and Diagnostics Laboratory (CMDL) which is part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
The latest observation of Carbon Dioxide concentrations from MLO can be found at CMDL Observatory Measurements and at Mauna Loa Observatory Monthly Mean Carbon Dioxide. Note: There are a number of datasets provided on the first page. The MLO CO2 data is depicted by the RED datapoints. CO2 levels are shown on the left side of the graph.
Mauna Loa Observatory (MLO) has activities at five sites. The primary observing site is located at the 11,135 ft (3397 m) level on Mauna Loa north slope. The administration and data processing is done in the Hilo office. Kulani Mauka is a rain collection site. Cape Kumukahi is a flask sample site located on the eastern most point of Hawaii. The old Hilo airport is where weekly ozonesonde flights are prepared and launched to measure stratospheric ozone.
Mauna Loa was originally chosen as a CO2 monitoring site because, being isolated in the middle of the Pacific, the air is exceptionally pure. Being high, it is above the inversion layer. There was also already a convenient road to the summit built by the military. The purity is good as long as there is no contamination from local volcanic sources - this is detected and removed [1] [2].
