American Samoa Observatory - NOAA Global Monitoring Laboratory

<!DOCTYPE html> <html lang="en"> <head> <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0"> <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"> <meta name="author" content="GML Web Team"> <meta name="google-site-verification" content="Uw6vHMCxBq921LJnURIx4fwUDt0DsjhZHWHFFAA8qMw" /> <meta name="keywords" content="noaa, national oceanic and atmospheric administration, earth system research, esrl, gml, gmd, climate, air quality, numerical modeling, global warming, climate change, ozone, co2, aerosols"> <meta name="description" content="GML conducts research on greenhouse gas and carbon cycle feedbacks, changes in aerosols, and surface radiation, and recovery of stratospheric ozone."> <meta property="og:description" content="GML conducts research on greenhouse gas and carbon cycle feedbacks, changes in aerosols, and surface radiation, and recovery of stratospheric ozone."> <title>American Samoa Observatory - NOAA Global Monitoring Laboratory</title> <meta property="og:title" content="American Samoa Observatory - NOAA Global Monitoring Laboratory" > <meta property="og:type" content="website" > <meta property="og:url" content="https://gml.noaa.gov/obop/smo/index.html" > <meta property="og:image" content="https://gml.noaa.gov/images/noaalogo2.png" >   <link href="https://fonts.googleapis.com/css?family=Roboto:300,400,500,700" rel="stylesheet"> <link rel="stylesheet" href="/css/bootstrap.min.css"> <link rel="stylesheet" href="/css/gmd.min.css">    <link rel="stylesheet" href="https://use.fontawesome.com/releases/v5.8.2/css/all.css" integrity="sha384-oS3vJWv+0UjzBfQzYUhtDYW+Pj2yciDJxpsK1OYPAYjqT085Qq/1cq5FLXAZQ7Ay" crossorigin="anonymous">     <script src="https://code.jquery.com/jquery-3.4.1.min.js" integrity="sha256-CSXorXvZcTkaix6Yvo6HppcZGetbYMGWSFlBw8HfCJo=" crossorigin="anonymous"></script> <script src="https://cdnjs.cloudflare.com/ajax/libs/popper.js/1.14.0/umd/popper.min.js" integrity="sha384-cs/chFZiN24E4KMATLdqdvsezGxaGsi4hLGOzlXwp5UZB1LY//20VyM2taTB4QvJ" crossorigin="anonymous"></script>  <script src="/js/bootstrap.min.js"></script>  <link rel="stylesheet" href="/obop/style.css" type="text/css"> </head> <body> <a class="sr-only sr-only-focusable" href="#main">Skip to main content</a>  <style> .img10 { width: 45px; } .usa-banner { font-size: 0.8rem; padding: 2px 2rem; background-color: #f0f0f0; } </style> <section class="usa-banner" aria-label="Official government website"> <div> <img src="/images/flags/smallflags/UNST0001.GIF" width='20px' height="11" class="left gap" alt="U.S. Flag"><span class="ml-3">An official website of the United States government</span> <a href="#top-grey-exp" class='ml-2 dropdown-toggle' data-toggle="collapse" aria-expanded="false" role="button">Here's how you know</a> </div> <div id="top-grey-exp" class="collapse px-3 pt-3" style='background-color: #f0f0f0'> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-6"> <div class="media ml-4"> <img src="/images/icon-dot-gov.svg" alt="icon dot gov" class="img10"> <div class="media-body ml-3"> <strong>Official websites use .gov</strong> <p>A <strong>.gov</strong> website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.</p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="col-md-6"> <div class="media ml-4"> <img src="/images/icon-https.svg" alt="icon https" class="img10"> <div class="media-body ml-3"> <strong>Secure .gov websites use HTTPS</strong> <p>A lock (<span class='fas fa-lock'></span>) or <strong>https://</strong> means you鈥檝e safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.</p> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <div id="major_header" role="banner"> <div id="search" class="d-none d-md-block float-right" role="search"> <form action="https://search.noaa.gov/search"> <div class="form-group mb-1"> <input type="hidden" name="affiliate" value="noaa_esrl_gmd"> <input type="hidden" name="v:project" value="firstgov" > <div class="input-group mb-1"> <input type="text" name="query" id="query-field" autocomplete="off" class='form-control input-xs' placeholder="Search GML..."> <div class="input-group-append"> <button type="submit" id='searchbutton' class="btn btn-secondary btn-sm"><i class="fa fa-search"></i><span class='sr-only'>Search</span></button> </div> <label for="query-field" class="sr-only"> Search GML:</label> </div> </div> </form> </div> <a href="https://www.noaa.gov" title="NOAA"> <img src="/images/noaa_small.webp" class="header_logo" alt='noaa logo' style="width: 50px; height: 50px;"> </a> <div id='navbar-brand-title'> <a href="/" title="GML" class="lab">Global Monitoring Laboratory</a><br> </div> </div> <div class="clearfix"></div> <nav class="navbar navbar-gmd navbar-expand-lg navbar-dark sticky-topxxx" aria-label="Main navigation"> <a class="navbar-brand d-lg-none" href="#">Menu</a> <button class="navbar-toggler" type="button" data-toggle="collapse" data-target="#navbarNavDropdown" aria-controls="navbarNavDropdown" aria-expanded="false" aria-label="Toggle navigation"> <span class="navbar-toggler-icon"></span> </button> <div class="container"> <div id="navbarNavDropdown" class="collapse navbar-collapse majornav"> <ul class="navbar-nav ml-auto mr-auto"> <li class="nav-item"> <a href="/" class='nav-link' title='GML Home Page'> <span class='fa fa-home'></span><span class='d-lg-none'> Home</span> </a> </li> <li class="nav-item dropdown"> <a href="#" class="nav-link dropdown-toggle" id="navbarabout" data-toggle="dropdown">About</a> <div class="dropdown-menu shadow collapse" aria-labelledby="navbarabout"> <a href="/about/aboutgml.html" class="dropdown-item">About GML</a> <a class="dropdown-item" href="/review/">Science Reviews</a> <a class="dropdown-item" href="/safety/">Safety Program</a>  <a href="/about/jobs.html" class="dropdown-item">Employment</a> <a href="https://www.boulder.noaa.gov/outreach/tour-noaa-boulder/" class="dropdown-item">Visiting</a> <a href="/about/contacts.html" class="dropdown-item">Contact Us</a>  <a href="https://sites.google.com/noaa.gov/oar-gml-intranet/home" class="dropdown-item">Intranet</a> </div> </li> <li class="nav-item dropdown"> <a href="#" class="nav-link dropdown-toggle" id="navbarpeople" data-toggle="dropdown">People</a> <div class="dropdown-menu shadow collapse" aria-labelledby="navbarpeople"> <a href="/about/orgchart.html" class="dropdown-item">Organization</a> <a href="/about/stafflist.html" class="dropdown-item">Staff</a> <a href="/about/employees.html" class="dropdown-item">Employee Spotlight</a> </div> </li> <li class="nav-item dropdown"> <a href="#" class="nav-link dropdown-toggle" id="navbarresearch" data-toggle="dropdown">Research</a> <div class="dropdown-menu shadow" aria-labelledby="navbarresearch"> <a class="dropdown-item" href="/about/research.html">Research Overview</a> <a class="dropdown-item" href="/ccgg/">Carbon Cycle Greenhouse Gases</a> <a class="dropdown-item" href="/hats/">Greenhouse gases and Ozone-depleting Substances</a> <a class="dropdown-item" href="/ozwv/">Ozone and Water Vapor</a> <a class="dropdown-item" href="/grad/">Global Radiation, Aerosols and Clouds</a> <a class="dropdown-item" href="/publications/">Publications</a> <span class="menu-header ml-2">Calibration Facilities</span> <a class="dropdown-item" href="/ccl/">WMO Central Calibration Laboratory</a> <a class="dropdown-item" href="/grad/calfacil/">Central UV Calibration Facility</a> <a class="dropdown-item" href="/grad/srf.html">Broadband Solar Calibration Facility</a> <a class="dropdown-item" href="/ozwv/dobson/">World Dobson Ozone Calibration Centre</a> </div> </li> <li class="nav-item dropdown mega-dropdown"> <a href="#" class="nav-link dropdown-toggle" data-hover="dropdown" data-toggle="dropdown">Observing Networks</a> <div class="dropdown-menu shadow mega-dropdown-menu wide-menuxx"> <div class="row"> <div class="col col-lg-3 bro"> <span class="menu-header ml-2">Overview</span> <a class="dropdown-item" href="/about/networks.html">Observations Overview</a> <a class="dropdown-item" href="/dv/site/">Measurement Sites</a> <a class="dropdown-item" href="/about/campaigns.html">Field Campaigns</a> </div> <div class="col col-lg-4 bro"> <span class="menu-header ml-2">Atmospheric Baseline Observatories</span> <a class="dropdown-item" href="/obop/">Observatory Operations</a> <a class="dropdown-item" href="/obop/brw/">Barrow, Alaska</a> <a class="dropdown-item" href="/obop/mlo/">Mauna Loa, Hawaii</a> <a class="dropdown-item" href="/obop/smo/">American Samoa</a> <a class="dropdown-item" href="/obop/spo/">South Pole</a> </div> <div class="col col-lg-5"> <span class="menu-header ml-2">Observing Networks</span> <a class="dropdown-item" href="/ccgg/about.html">Greenhouse Gas Reference Network</a> <a class="dropdown-item" href="/hats/flask/flasks.html">Halocarbons and Trace Gases</a> <a class="dropdown-item" href="/grad/field.html">Surface Radiation</a> <a class="dropdown-item" href="/aero/net/">Federated Aerosol Network</a> <a class="dropdown-item" href="/ozwv/network.php">Ozone</a> <a class="dropdown-item" href="/ozwv/wvap/">Water Vapor</a> </div> </div> </div> </li>  <li class="nav-item dropdown mega-dropdown"> <a href="#" class="nav-link dropdown-toggle" data-hover="dropdown" data-toggle="dropdown">Data & Products</a> <div class="dropdown-menu shadow mega-dropdown-menu"> <div class="row"> <div class="col bro"> <span class="menu-header ml-2">Data</span> <a class="dropdown-item" href="/data/">Data & Products Portal</a> <a class="dropdown-item" href="/data/data.php">Data Finder</a> <a class="dropdown-item" href="/ccgg/obspack/">ObsPack Data Products</a> <a class="dropdown-item" href="/dv/site/">Measurement Sites</a> </div> <div class="col bro"> <span class="menu-header ml-2">Visualization & Tools</span> <a class="dropdown-item" href="/grad/solcalc/">Solar Calculator</a> <a class="dropdown-item" href="/dv/iadv/">Data Viewer</a> <a class="dropdown-item" href="/dv/spo_oz/">South Pole Ozone Hole</a> <a class="dropdown-item" href="/grad/mloapt.html">Mauna Loa Apparent Transmission</a> <a class="dropdown-item" href="/grad/snomelt.html">Barrow Snow Melt Dates</a> </div> <div class="col"> <span class="menu-header ml-2">Products</span> <a class="dropdown-item" href="/aggi/">Greenhouse Gas Index</a> <a class="dropdown-item" href="/odgi/">Ozone Depletion Index</a> <a class="dropdown-item" href="/ccgg/trends/">Trends in CO<sub>2</sub>, CH<sub>4</sub>, N<sub>2</sub>O, SF<sub>6</sub></a> <a class="dropdown-item" href="/modeling.html">Modeling</a> </div> </div> </div> </li> <li class="nav-item dropdown"> <a href="#" class="nav-link dropdown-toggle" data-hover="dropdown" data-toggle="dropdown">Information</a> <div class="dropdown-menu shadow dropdown-menu-right"> <a class="dropdown-item" href="/news/">News</a> <a class="dropdown-item" href="/about/seminars.php">Seminars</a> <a class="dropdown-item" href="/education/">Education/Outreach</a> <a class="dropdown-item" href="/interns/">Student Opportunities</a> <a class="dropdown-item" href="/education/faq_cat-1.html">FAQ's</a> <a class="dropdown-item" href="/publications/">Publications</a> <span class="menu-header">Webcams</span> <a class="dropdown-item" href="/obop/spo/livecamera.html">South Pole Webcam</a> <a class="dropdown-item" href="/obop/mlo/livecam/livecam.html">Mauna Loa Webcams</a> <a class="dropdown-item" href="/obop/brw/livecamera.html">Barrow Webcam</a> <span class="menu-header">Global Monitoring Annual Conference</span> <a class="dropdown-item" href="/gmac/">GMAC Conference</a> </div> </li> </ul> <div id="search" class="d-lg-none"> <form action="https://search.usa.gov/search"> <div class="form-group mb-1"> <input type="hidden" name="affiliate" value="noaa_esrl_gmd"> <input type="hidden" name="v:project" value="firstgov" > <div class="input-group mb-1"> <input type="text" name="query" id="query-field2" autocomplete="off" class='form-control input-xs' placeholder="Search GML..."> <div class="input-group-append"> <button type="submit" id='searchbutton' class="btn btn-secondary btn-sm"><i class="fa fa-search"></i><span class='sr-only'>Search</span></button> </div> <label for="query-field2" class="sr-only"> Search GML:</label> </div> </div> </form> </div> </div> </div> </nav> <div id="main" role="main"> <div class="container-md"> <h1 class="pageheader">American Samoa Baseline Observatory</h1> <img src="/main_img/samoa.jpg" class="banner-img3 mb-4" alt="samoa panorama"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-7"> <p> The American Samoa Observatory (SMO) is located in the middle of the South Pacific, about midway between Hawaii and New Zealand. It is characterized by year-round warmth and humidity, lush green mountains, and strong Samoan culture. The observatory is situated on the northeastern tip of Tutuila Island, American Samoa, at Cape Matatula. </p> <p> The observatory was established in 1974 on a 26.7 acre site. Since its construction, it has survived two major hurricanes, an earthquake, and a tsunami with only minor damage. A staff of 3 operates the facility year round. This observatory has the distinction of obtaining 30% of its daytime power from solar panels. </p> <p>The territory of American Samoa consists of 7 islands that lie 4700 km (2600 miles) southwest of Hawaii, in the center of the Pacific Ocean and are the oldest of the Samoan Islands. The total land mass for the 7 islands is 197 sq km (76.1 sq miles) with 74% belonging to the island of Tutuila. Tutuila is roughly 30 km long and 6 km at its widest point with Pago Pago Harbor at the center of the island. This harbor is the remnants of a volcanic crater and a deep sheltered location, prime as an ocean vessel port. The majority of the population resides on this island. The NOAA GML Observatory lies at the northeast tip of the island, on Cape Matatula, just past the village of Tula. The drive from the airport to the observatory is roughly 24 miles, passing the major shopping areas, the port, the center of government, the open market, and numerous villages nestled along the main road, AS001. </p> </div> <div class="col-md-5"> <div class="row no-gutters"> <div class="col-lg-3 col-6 text-center"> <a class="btn-gml-icon" href="/dv/site/index.php?stacode=smo"> <span class="fa-stack fa-2x mt-2"> <i class="fas fa-circle fa-stack-2x"></i> <i class="fas fa-globe fa-stack-1x fa-inverse"></i> </span> <div class="icon-label">Site Info</div></a> </div> <div class="col-lg-3 col-6 text-center"> <a class="btn-gml-icon" href="/dv/data/?site=smo"> <span class="fa-stack fa-2x mt-2"> <i class="fas fa-circle fa-stack-2x"></i> <i class="fas fa-database fa-stack-1x fa-inverse"></i> </span> <div class="icon-label">Datasets</div></a> </div> <div class="col-lg-3 col-6 text-center"> <a class="btn-gml-icon" href="/dv/iadv/?code=smo"> <span class="fa-stack fa-2x mt-2"> <i class="fas fa-circle fa-stack-2x"></i> <i class="fas fa-chart-line fa-stack-1x fa-inverse"></i> </span> <div class="icon-label">Data Viewer</div></a> </div> <div class="col-lg-3 col-6 text-center" style="padding: 0;"> <a class="btn btn-gml-icon" href="/bin/news.php?code=smo"> <span class="fa-stack fa-2x"> <i class="fas fa-circle fa-stack-2x"></i> <i class="fas fa-newspaper fa-stack-1x fa-inverse"></i> </span> <div class="icon-label">News</div></a> </div> </div> <div class="list-group list-group-flush list-group-condensed mb-3 mt-4 text-right"> <a class="list-group-item list-group-item-condensed list-group-item-action" href="smo_personnel.html">Personnel</a> <a class="list-group-item list-group-item-condensed list-group-item-action" href="/publications/search2.php?abstract=Samoa">Samoa Publications</a> <a class="list-group-item list-group-item-condensed list-group-item-action" href='/obop/smo/gallery/'>Photo Gallery</a> <a class="list-group-item list-group-item-condensed list-group-item-action" href='/obop/smo/triptotula.html'>Daily Commute</a> <a class="list-group-item list-group-item-condensed list-group-item-action" href='/obop/smo/tour.html'>Observatory Tour</a> </div> </div> </div> <div class='text-center mt-4 mb-4'> <a class='btn btn-lg btn-primary mb'href="met.html"><span class='fas fa-cloud-sun-rain'></span> Current Weather</a> </div> <hr> <div class="mt-4 mb-4"> <p> If you are interested in conducting research at one of the NOAA Baseline Observatories: <a class='btn btn-noaablue ml-4' href="https://docs.google.com/a/noaa.gov/forms/d/1m8QDuWh7jnL3PRDTs1Iocp5vubYG7IE5VIgCs28q1bI/viewform">Request a New Baseline Observatory<br> Cooperative Agreement</a> </p> </div> </div> <div class="readingbox"> <div class="container"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-8"> <h2 class="orange">Location</h2> <ul class="arrowlist size14"> <li>Country: American Samoa <img src='/images/flags/smallflags/AMSA0001.GIF' alt='Country Flag' style='margin-left: 6px;' width=32></li> <li>Latitude: 14.2474° South</li> <li>Longitude: 170.5644° West </li> <li>Elevation: 42.00 masl </li> <li>Time Zone: Local Time + 11 hour(s) = UTC</li> </ul> <h2 class="orange">Contact</h2> <ul class="arrowlist size14"> <li>Contact Name: <a href='mailto:smo.staff@noaa.gov'>SMO Staff</a></li> <li>Address: NOAA Samoa Observatory<br> P.O. Box 2568<br>Pago Pago, Cape Matatula, 96799, American Samoa</li> <li>Phone: </li> <li>Fax: </li> </ul> </div> <div class="col-md-4"> <img class="img-fluid" src='/dv/site/maps/SMO.png' alt='map of smo'> </div> </div> </div> </div>  </div>  <footer class="footer" role="contentinfo"> <div class="footer-secondary_section"> <div class="container-md"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-8"> <div class="media"> <img class="footer-logo mr-3 d-none d-sm-block" src="/webdata/logos/noaa-emblem.webp" alt="NOAA logo with wording" width=74 height=74> <div class="media-body"> <p> <a class="footer-logo-heading mt-0" href="/">Global Monitoring Laboratory</a> <br> » <a href="https://www.commerce.gov/">U.S. Department of Commerce</a> <br> » <a href="https://www.noaa.gov/">National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration</a> <br> » <a href="https://research.noaa.gov/">NOAA Research</a> </p> </div> </div> <div class='mt-2'> <p> <a href="https://www.noaa.gov/protecting-your-privacy">Privacy Policy</a>  |   <a href="https://www.noaa.gov/accessibility">Accessibility</a>  |   <a href="/about/disclaimer.html">Disclaimer</a>  |   <a href="https://www.noaa.gov/disclaimer">Disclaimer for External Links</a>  |   <a href="https://www.noaa.gov/information-technology/foia">FOIA</a>  |   <a href="https://www.usa.gov">Usa.gov</a> </p> </div> </div> <div class="col-md-4 footer-right-section"> <p> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/NOAAResearch" title="NOAA Research Facebook" aria-label="NOAA Research Facebook"> <i class="fab fa-facebook-f fa-1x social"></i></a> <a href="https://instagram.com/noaaresearch" title="NOAA Research Instagram" aria-label="NOAA Research Instagram"> <i class="fab fa-instagram fa-1x social"></i></a> <br> <a href="/sitemap/">Site Contents</a><br> <a href="/about/contacts.html">Contact Us</a>  |  <a href="mailto:webmaster.gml@noaa.gov">Webmaster</a><br> <a href="/survey/">Take Our Survey</a> </p> </div> </div> </div> </div> </footer> <script async="" type="text/javascript" id="_fed_an_ua_tag" src="https://dap.digitalgov.gov/Universal-Federated-Analytics-Min.js?agency=DOC&subagency=NOAA"></script> <script async src="https://siteimproveanalytics.com/js/siteanalyze_6294131.js"></script> </body> </html>

CINXE.COM

American Samoa Observatory - NOAA Global Monitoring Laboratory