New Cook Inlet Buoy
The new buoy off Anchor Point in Cook Inlet transmits real-time information about wave height and direction, as well as sea surface temperature.
The first step in implementing the National Waves Monitoring Plan in Alaska occurred this spring with the successful deployment of a new wave buoy off Anchor Point in Cook Inlet. The buoy transmits real-time information about wave height and direction, as well as sea surface temperature.
Information from the buoy will be used to assist a wide array of marine operations. Cook Inlet receives significant vessel traffic, as 95% of Alaska's goods arrive by barge through the inlet on the way to the Port of Anchorage. Circulation patterns are complicated in the inlet, which also experiences high winds, seasonal sea ice, and tides up to 36 feet in places.
“This is a great example of collaboration among the Alaska ocean observing community,” said Molly McCammon, Executive Director of the Alaska Ocean Observing System (AOOS), the owner and manager of the new buoy. “It’s a key component of AOOS’ initiative to improve ocean monitoring in Cook Inlet to meet the needs of the inlet’s many users, including commercial and recreational fishermen, shipping, resource managers, and the oil and gas industry and oil spill responders.”
An active sport fishing fleet departing from Homer and Anchor Point has desired a buoy for many years, thus the fishing community has expressed excitement about the buoy. “Local mariners can benefit immediately”, said Captain Bob Ward, head of the Homer Charter Association. “This data will provide every mariner, commercial, sport charter and private sport vessel operator the opportunity to determine what the sea conditions are before venturing out into these waters. This is one resource that every mariner can access and understand.”
The buoy is part of the national Coastal Data Information Program (CDIP) sponsored by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The buoy was prepped at Scripps Oceanographic Institute in San Diego, and then shipped to Alaska on a U.S. Coast Guard cutter. The mooring chain was provided by NOAA’s National Data Buoy Center. Lake Clark National Park and Preserve provided their research vessel, the Chigmit, for deployment. The Kachemak Bay Research Reserve will be on call should the buoy separate from its mooring or malfunctions. The KBRR phone number is listed on the buoy if mariners should find the buoy adrift. AOOS owns and maintains the buoy.
Wave height and direction data, as well as sea surface temperature, are available through the following links:
•AOOS data portal (zoom into lower Cook Inlet): http://data.aoos.org/maps/sensors.php
•CDIP (station ID: 175) http://cdip.ucsd.edu
•NDBC station page (station ID: 46108) http://www.ndbc.noaa.gov
Alaska Ocean Observing System, AOOS
Wave height and direction data, as well as sea surface temperature, are available through the following links:
- AOOS data portal - zoom into lower Cook Inlet
- CDIP (station ID: 175)
- NDBC station page (station ID: 46108)