Buoy Display, Presentation, at Great Lakes Science Center
CLEVELAND – June 22, 2015 – Attendees at Great Lakes Adventure Week will be able to get up close and personal with a new environmental weather buoy on Friday, June 25 and Saturday June 26. A display featuring real-time data from a local buoy and information on how the data is utilized will be a part of the event at the Great Lakes Science Center. The new buoy project is kicking off this year in the Cleveland area with a grant funded by the US Environmental Protection Agency Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, administered by the Great Lakes Observing System (GLOS) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
“Tools like these buoys are the front line when it comes to gathering information about the Great Lakes,” said Kelli Paige, executive director of the Great Lakes Observing System. “Decision makers across the region use this data for safeguarding the public’s health.”
A diverse group of stakeholders will utilize observations from the new buoy deployed offshore of Cleveland on Lake Erie. Current partners on the project include the Cleveland Division of Water, Cleveland Water Alliance, and the Lake Erie Energy Development Corporation.
“Safe, high quality water for our customers is of utmost importance to Cleveland Water,” said Scott Moegling, Water Quality Manager with Cleveland Water. “Getting good information from the lake is a critical piece of the water treatment puzzle.”
Smart buoys like the one that will be displayed at the GLSC are complicated pieces of scientific equipment that trained professionals deploy and maintain on a seasonal basis to continually gather information on changing lake conditions. The information measured by the buoy includes water temperature, wind speeds, wave heights, water temperature, and oxygen levels. All things that can impact the quality of drinking water, as well as boating and swimming safety.
“Getting information in real-time, which is what these buoys provide, ensures that members of the public and decision-makers have a more complete and accurate picture of conditions on the lake,” Ed Verhamme of LimnoTech, the company that operates the Cleveland Buoy adds. “Every bit of information that we can add to the mix is one more tool in the box of the city manager, the boat captain, or the researcher. That could make a real difference when it comes to making sure our interactions with the water are safe.”
The public is invited to view the weather and water quality buoy at Great Lakes Adventure Week, and staff will be on hand to answer questions from 11-3 Friday June 26 and at the same time Saturday June 27. A press availability will take place from 1-3 on Friday.
The Great Lakes Observing System is a network of people and technology coordinated to provide data about the Great Lakes at no cost to users and in a variety of formats and applications. This information informs policy, public health and safety, resource management and research activities. For more information on our work visit www.glos.us. Connect with us on our Facebook page at facebook.com/GreatLakesObservingSystem, and follow our tweets at twitter.com/GLOSystem
