NEW TABS BUOYS

Two New Prototype Buoys Deployed in Sanctuary

November 29, 2007--The Geochemical & Environmental Research Group (GERG) of Texas A&M University recently deployed two new prototype 2.25m discus buoys on behalf of the Flower Garden Banks Joint Industry Project (JIP). These replace older buoys at locations N and V of the Texas Automated Buoy System (TABS). Site V is located within sanctuary boundaries at East Flower Garden Bank while site N is located west of West Flower Garden Bank.

Each new buoy is equipped with a full meteorological package of sensors including two anemometers, as well as temperature, humidity and barometric pressure sensors. In addition, a six-axis accelerometer records buoy motion, which will eventually allow for real time directional wave climate measurements. Beneath the water, further instrumentation measures water temperature, conductivity and current direction. A solar charged power supply keeps everything operational.

The buoys are also equipped with a WIFI for system testing and data download at sea, Globalstar satellite telemetry and a backup telemetry system. As with all TABS buoys, the operation and setup can be changed remotely by satellite if necessary.

New TABS buoy deployed at site V at East Flower Garden Bank
Photo Credit: GERG

To view data from either of the new buoys, visit the TABS web site and click on the large N or V on the map.

For more information about all of the informational buoys in and around the Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary, visit the Weather & Data Buoys page of this web site.

Download a copy of this article (124kb pdf).