As climate change continues to reshape weather patterns and impact natural ecosystems, having access to real-time data has never been more important. Understanding lake conditions—like temperature and wave heights—isn’t just useful for safety and recreation; it’s also crucial for monitoring the health of our waters and spotting early signs of environmental shifts.
Bruce Power is rising to the challenge by deploying three state-of-the-art smart buoys along the Bruce County shoreline of Lake Huron. These buoys will provide valuable, real-time data on the lake's conditions, helping to keep our communities informed and our environment protected.
Sofar, so good
“We were really excited to deploy three new high-tech buoys in early June 2024,” shared Kristen Coleman, a technical officer in environmental management at Bruce Power. “These buoys, called Spotter buoys, are now stationed at Lorne Beach, Inverhuron, and MacGregor Point.”
Developed by Sofar Ocean Technologies, these Spotter buoys are equipped with advanced sensors that capture and transmit high-resolution data on water temperature, wave height and more. Sofar Ocean has deployed hundreds of these platforms worldwide, where they play a critical role in understanding ocean and lake environments.
“The buoys provide live lake temperature and wave height data, so we can observe lake conditions in real-time,” Coleman explained. “This information is invaluable not only for our environmental monitoring but also for everyone who relies on the lake, from boaters to scientists.”
One major advantage of real-time monitoring is that it significantly reduces the risk of missing data due to device failure or loss—a common issue with traditional data logging methods.
Buoys of a feather
The buoys are integrated with Seagull, an open-access platform developed by the Great Lakes Observing System. Seagull aggregates data from buoys and weather stations across the Great Lakes, delivering real-time updates and forecast models on conditions like currents and wind speed.
The beauty of Seagull is that it allows anyone with an observing device to contribute their data in a standardized way, making it easier for users to track trends, visualize data and make informed decisions.
For example, users can set up alerts to notify them when specific lake conditions are met, such as when waves at a specific buoy are above or below a certain height.
“By connecting these buoys to Seagull, the data is now publicly available, helping community members plan their recreational activities on the lake,” Coleman noted. “But beyond that, this data also enhances our understanding of the local environment through long-term monitoring.”
As climate change continues to impact weather and aquatic ecosystems, tools like these smart buoys are essential for gathering the data needed to adapt and respond. With this investment in cutting-edge technology, Bruce Power is reaffirming its commitment to environmental sustainability and stewardship.
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