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Image: Mauna Loa Observatory

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Original image ‎(3,802 × 3,882 pixels, file size: 2.07 MB, MIME type: image/jpeg)

Description: This natural-colour satellite image of the summit of Mauna Loa — overlaid with 100-meter contour lines, helps illustrate why volcanic emissions from the summit rarely reach the observatory. The observatory is located on the northern slope of the mountain, 6 kilometres away from and 800 meters lower than the summit. Most of the time, the prevailing north-easterly trade winds prevent volcanically contaminated air from reaching the observatory. Only on a small percentage of nights do the winds become light and southerly, pushing volcanic emissions downhill to the observatory.
Title: Mauna Loa Observatory
Credit: NASA Earth Observatory
Author: Robert Simmon
Usage Terms: Public domain
License: Public domain
Attribution Required?: No

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