You’d must be fairly hardcore to outlive getting tossed out of a aircraft into the ocean with out a parachute. Now add an approaching hurricane to the combo and you’ve got an thought what it is like being one in every of Sofar’s Spotter buoys.
These sensor-packed bundles of tech get front-row seats to approaching storms, the place they collect and ship again vital information to assist individuals on shore plan, put together and survive.
POV: You are tossing a Spotter buoy out of a aircraft into the trail of a hurricane.
With a hurricane approaching, correct predictions concerning the storm’s power, the anticipated rise in water stage (storm surge) and which areas might must evacuate is usually a matter of life and dying. Getting the info to make these predictions is getting simpler because of the Spotter buoys made by Sofar Ocean Applied sciences.
Sofar’s Floor Spotter buoy.
Sofar makes two several types of Spotter buoys: a shiny yellow one which floats on the floor, and a submersible cylindrical one with an anchor that drags it right down to the ocean flooring.
The floor Spotter buoys stay within the ocean long-term, becoming a member of a worldwide community of sensors offering common ocean information to assist ships navigate safer and extra effectively.
Sofar’s Submersible Spotter buoy.
Map of Sofar’s Floor Spotter buoys within the path of Hurricane Helene.
The submersible Spotter surfaces after the storm has handed to transmit its information, because of a Galvanic Timed Launch that corrodes in seawater and detaches the Spotter from its anchor.
In 2024, Sofar deployed its buoys in entrance of hurricanes Francine, Helene and Milton. To see highlights of their deployment and our go to to Sofar’s San Francisco workplace, try the video on this article.
