New Community Focused Buoy to Launch near Grand Haven, Summer 2013

The Great Lakes Observing System (GLOS), working to coordinate and enhance the network of observations and data access in the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River system, announced plans to deploy a buoy near Grand Haven, Michigan to improve observations in the nearshore region. The buoy will provide critical meteorological and physical data to support National Weather Service forecasts, while supporting local community needs for information.

Funding was made possible by the Coastal Storms Program, a nationwide effort led by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), to make communities safer by reducing the loss of life and negative impacts caused by coastal storms. LimnoTech, an environmental engineering and consulting firm based in Ann Arbor, MI, was awarded funding to deploy and maintain the buoy through 2015. GLOS and LimnoTech are seeking local organizations to partner with throughout the project duration to continue deployment past 2015.

“The new nearshore buoy will provide data that will improve our weather forecasts, help alert boaters and swimmers of hazardous conditions, protect drinking water supplies and aid the US Coast Guard in search and rescue operations,” said Bob Dukesherer, Senior Meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Grand Rapids. The new buoy will measure air temperature, relative humidity, wind speed and direction, air pressure, water temperature, wave height, period, and direction.

GLOS is dedicated to developing a fully integrated, bi-national observing system that provides products and services to decision-makers, resource managers and other data users. In partnership with federal, state and local government agencies, research institutions, industries, private corporations, bi-national organizations, and not for profit organizations, GLOS connects data users with data providers in ways that are supportive of policy and decision-making.