Mon Jul 07 00:30:00 UTC 2025: Okay, here’s a summary and a rewritten news article based on the provided text:
**Summary:**
The article discusses the crucial role of the Mauna Loa Observatory in Hawaii in tracking atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) levels and providing evidence of climate change since the 1950s. The Keeling Curve, generated from Mauna Loa data, is an iconic representation of the increasing CO2 levels due to human activities. However, the article raises concerns about the potential defunding of the observatory by the US administration, which would be a significant loss to climate science. It emphasizes the importance of continuous monitoring to understand the impact of climate policies and to detect changes in the Earth’s capacity to absorb CO2. The article suggests that if the US withdraws support, other countries, such as Australia with its Kennaook/Cape Grim station, will need to step up their monitoring efforts. It highlights the danger of ignoring scientific data and the need for international cooperation in addressing climate change.
**News Article:**
**Iconic Climate Change Observatory Faces Shutdown as US Cuts Funding**
**Hawaii, July 7, 2025:** The future of the Mauna Loa Observatory in Hawaii, a crucial site for tracking global carbon dioxide (CO2) levels and a cornerstone of climate change research for over 65 years, is in jeopardy following the US administration’s decision to defund the facility and other climate monitoring networks.
Since 1958, Mauna Loa has provided invaluable data, culminating in the famed Keeling Curve, which graphically illustrates the alarming rise in atmospheric CO2 due to human activity. This data has unequivocally demonstrated the impact of burning fossil fuels on the planet’s atmosphere, revealing levels unseen in at least three million years.
“Losing Mauna Loa would be a huge loss to climate science,” said climate scientists from UNSW Sydney, co-authors of the article. “We can’t solve the existential problem of climate change if we can’t track the changes. Stopping data climate collection is like breaking a thermometer because you don’t like knowing you’ve got a fever.”
The observatory’s data is vital for understanding the Earth’s carbon cycle and for verifying the effectiveness of climate policies aimed at reducing emissions. Scientists warn that discontinuing these measurements would hamper our ability to predict extreme weather events and understand how the planet’s capacity to absorb CO2 is changing.
The move has sparked international concern, with experts urging other nations to increase their investment in climate monitoring. Australia’s Kennaook/Cape Grim Baseline Air Pollution Station in Tasmania is poised to become even more critical if Mauna Loa ceases operations.
The potential closure of Mauna Loa underscores the need for international cooperation in climate research and the dangers of ignoring scientific evidence in the face of a global crisis. The world now faces the challenge of filling the void left by the US retreat from climate monitoring and ensuring the continued collection of essential data for informed decision-making.
First Piper 