Ocean Research

Partnering with the Noyo Center for Marine Science, scientists with The Nature Conservancy (TNC) recently deployed a Sofar Spotter Smart Buoy in Albion Cove on the Mendocino Coast. With the support of Aqualink and Sofar Oceans technology, this buoy monitors the geographic position, sea temperature at 1m (surface), sea temperature at 15m (bottom), wind/speed direction, significant wave height, and wave period/direction. Of importance, all of these data are transmitted live through cellular signals and can be viewed or downloaded by users 24/7 on the Aqualink website.

This equipment provides valuable data for many purposes, including TNC’s work testing kelp enhancement techniques at Albion alongside partners at Sonoma State University, Moss Landing Marine Labs, Reef Check, California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Commercial Urchin Divers and community, in this broader effort to protect and restore kelp refugia locations.

Noyo Center for Marine Science is displaying the real-time data for public view on our website, at our Discovery Center Science Museum in Fort Bragg as well as our Field Station in Noyo Harbor to help bring these data and insight from local restoration efforts to the community.