Prototype environmental buoy (PEB)

NDBO is sponsoring a data buoy program to meet the requirements of the National Weather Service (NWS) for environmental monitoring in data-sparse marine areas. Initially, six buoys are planned for deployment in the Gulf of Alaska and along the west coast of the United States to provide data to NWS and other organizations involved in making weather forecasts and climatological studies. The buoys will be a deep discus hull configuration with a diameter of 10 meters. Meteorological, oceanographic, and wave parameters will be measured and reported to shore for dissemination to users. The low-power demand, modular-electronics payload will be powered by a 3-year supply of air-depolarized batteries. The payload consists of redundant meteorological sensor assemblies to measure wind speed and direction, barometric pressure, and air temperature; thermistors to measure water temperature at seven levels; a hardwired data acquisition and control system; and two, two-channel HF communication systems. Although the initial communications mode will be HF, provisions have been made for conversion to UHF when the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES) becomes operational. The first buoy is now deployed off the coast of Oregon. Five additional buoys are presently in production and will be delivered in June 1976.