The historic **Mauna Loa Observatory** (Hawaii), crucial since 1958 for collecting data on the **emission and accumulation of carbon dioxide** in the atmosphere, is in danger.
The observatory is facing a possible shutdown due to plans by the Donald Trump administration through **Elon Musk** to cancel the lease of the offices that allow its maintenance.
This observatory also gave rise to the famous **Keeling Curve**, a graph that shows the increase in global carbon dioxide emissions associated with global warming.
Impact on climate science
The closure of the **Global Monitoring Laboratory in Hilo**, which operates in connection with the observatory, would affect a team of eight scientists and technicians responsible for its maintenance.
According to reports, the expenses of this office are included in a list of possible lease contract terminations prepared by the **Department of Governmental Efficiency (DOGE)**, led by Elon Musk.
Additionally, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), which oversees these facilities, faces significant cuts, including a **20% reduction in staff** and the limitation of **essential meteorological balloon launches** for climate monitoring.
Reactions and concerns
A group of Democratic politicians has expressed their **concern** in a letter to the Secretary of Commerce, Howard Lutnick, highlighting that the closure of these facilities would compromise NOAA’s ability to provide crucial information on extreme weather phenomena and the conservation of **marine resources**.
Ralph Keeling, a researcher at the **University of California** and son of the creator of the **Keeling Curve**, described the data collected at Mauna Loa as “vital for understanding future changes on the planet”.
An alarming context
On March 7, the Mauna Loa Observatory recorded a record concentration of **carbon dioxide in the atmosphere**: 430.6 parts per million (ppm), a level not seen for between three and five million years.
Meanwhile, the Trump administration continues to deny the existence of **climate change** and prioritize **fossil fuel extraction**, sparking criticism for marginalizing the scientific community.
Cover photo: Susan Cobb/AP
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