Science is the study of observations.

Even theories are based on observable data. In 1609, Johannes Kepler used observable data to create mathematical formulas that described Earth's motion around the Sun, and the Moon's motion around us. This would not have been possible without the work of many astronomers that came before him. The reason for this elliptical motion was observed but not proven until Isaac Newton's theories on gravity in the 1680's. Today, the theory of gravity is still not fully developed, but we can all agree that gravity exists. Different sciences study different topics, but they are all based on what we can measure, detect, or otherwise observe.

Hawaii's isolation and tall mountain peaks make it the ideal location for gathering data about the atmosphere. Hawaii is located roughly 3,200 kilometers (2,000 miles) away from California, and about 6,600 kilometers (4,100 miles) away from Japan. The Mauna Loa Observatory was built in 1956 to help scientists understand how our atmosphere is changing over time. While the data may fluctuate, one observation remains: the carbon dioxide levels are steadily increasing and have been increasing since the observatory first opened in 1956.