What does the oceonographic buoy measure?

The oceanographic buoy is fitted with measurement instrumentation for the Marine Biology Station Piran of the National Institute of Biology . An acoustic current gauge is situated on the sea bed beneath the buoy to monitor currents.device (manufactured by Nortek , Norway) takes a current profile (at one meter depth intervals) and monitors sea floor temperature and relative changes in sea level (mainly due to tidal variation). An acoustic wind gauge (Gill instrument ), installed on the oceanographic buoy at approximately five meters above sea level, is used to measure winds. An electronic compass has been added to measure the minor position shifts of the buoy which is otherwise triply anchored. We have a web site which currently allows the wider public access to wind speed data. Other measurements will also beadded to this site in the near future. The oceanographic buoy will ensure an improved overview of sea conditions (principly currents and winds). It will contribute to improved safety for sea farers, to more efficient accident intervention and to more accurate assessment of the ecological impact of pollutants (for example in the spread of fuel slicks). Oceanographic buoy was projected an made by Sirio d.o.o.

Oceanographic buoy is supported also by the Slovenian Environment Agency.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Vlado Malacic