The Mauna Loa Story:Lessons for Long-Term Earth
Observations
Ralph F. Keeling
Scripps Institution of Oceanography
University of California, San Diego
The Mauna Loa CO2 Record
Charles D. Keeling (1928-2005)
Image credit: Publication of the National Oceanic & AtmosphericAdminstration (NOAA), NOAA Central Library;Photo Date: 1982 February; Photographer: Commander JohnBortniak, NOAA Corps (ret.)
CO2 over past 420 thousand years
Present Level 378 ppm
Source: Petit et al., Nature 399, 429-236, 1999
CO2 over past 420 thousand years
Present Level 378 ppm
Source: Petit et al., Nature 399, 429-236, 1999
Mauna Loa Record
Congressionally mandatedbudget cuts
force shutdown
NSF: warning on"routine monitoring"
NSF& NOAA coordinateterminate Scripps program
DOE rescuesprogram
"Mandatedconvergence"
w/ NOAA
DOE pulls out of globalcarbon research
• Genesis of measurements is often inuniversity setting.
• Ensures emphasis on data quality.
• Link to technology improvements.
• Link to training and teaching.
• Dissemination of science.
Lessons Learned
Challenges:
Other points:
• Doctrine against "routine monitoring".
• Shifting federal priorities.
• Better interagency coordination, notalways helpful.
• Normal peer-review is not incompatiblewith long-term programs.