HAO News

After 38 years, Hawaii's Mauna Loa erupted on Sunday 27 November 2022 at 11:30 PM local time. The eruption quickly filled the summit caldera forcing lava to spill and flow outward in an east and west direction. While the exact timing was a surprise, the eruption was anticipated due to recently felt earthquakes. Lava flows east of the Mauna Loa Solar Observatory (MLSO) have destroyed parts of the access road to the observatory and knocked out all power to the site. MLSO is not near any lava flows and not in any immediate danger.

Charlie J. Garcia passed away comfortably on 11/19/21 at age 91 surrounded by his caring family members. There is a celebration of his life on Saturday, November 5, 2022 in Hilo, HI. The High Altitude Observatory (HAO) at National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) would like to honor Charlie’s life with the following photographic highlights from his long career as the Mauna Loa Chief Observer.

This upcoming BBC news broadcast includes commentary from HAO's Phil Judge & Claire Raftery at NSO is titled The Sun: Myths and Magnetism. We provide you with options for viewing.

HAO is absolutely thrilled to announce that our very own Sarah Gibson has become an AGU Fellow in the 2022 class as just released on 19 September by EOS Science News! Please join us in congratulating her on a well-deserved recognition of an impactful and successful career. 

Dr. Dong Lin's research article titled “Origin of Dawnside Subauroral Polarization Streams During Major Geomagnetic Storms,” was featured this month as an EOS Editor's Highlight. Fewer than 2 percent of papers are highlighted in this way.

The High Altitude Observatory and the National Solar Observatory organized their second successful Spectropolarimetry School in Boulder, Colorado. This two-week school presented an overview of the field of solar spectropolarimetry and its use for observing the Sun. 

HAO held the latest in a series of successful Space Weather Summer Schools in Boulder, Colorado during the last 2 weeks of July. This unique educational workshop brought together 31 students mainly from the United States along with two students from abroad.

The aim of the third Eddy Symposium is to bring scientists (both early-career and more senior) together, from diverse disciplines, to help define the next decade of helio-physical research, including its implications for planetary and astrophysical objects.

NCAR is a leading partner in the development of a model simulation that will transform scientists’ ability to model the impacts of space weather storms, which can disrupt radio communications, damage satellites, endanger astronauts, and down electrical grids.