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Big Bear Solar Observatory
The Big Bear Solar Observatory lies on the northern shore of Big Bear Lake, Southern California. It is a world-recognized facility carrying out research on the Sun, its magnetic field, and events in connection with activity on the sun.
The Goode Solar Telescope, more commonly known as Big Bear Solar Observatory or GST after the well-known solar physicist Philip R. Goode, is one of the core facilities at this observatory. It is a pathbreaker facility in terms of resolution and clarity for the study of solar phenomenons which can affect space weather and even the environment of Earth.
That's the reason why the observatory is set up at Big Bear Lake. The lake helps to level out the temperature of the air; this translates to less turbulence in the atmosphere, giving the telescopes a clearer view of the Sun. At an elevation of approximately 6,750 feet, the air is thinner and cleaner, which besides is helpful for the observations.
To put it another way, BBSO makes huge contributions to solar research in the sense that scientists can tell more about the behavior of the Sun and, for that matter, what it is capable of doing with respect to space weather and satellite communication on Earth.