J EN N ETTE'S PIER 



Another SEACOOS observation system 

 began operating this summer at Jennette's Pier 

 in Nags Head, the Outer Banks' oldest fishing 

 pier. Researchers installed a near-shore ocean 

 observation system that gathers real-time data 

 about weather and water conditions in the area. 



Visitors can use a screen kiosk and learn 

 about pier instruments: a weather station 



radar stations at the Duck research pier and the 

 former U.S. Coast Guard station in Buxton. 

 Researchers and anglers can use the CODAR 

 data to unravel the complexities of currents in 

 the Gulf Stream that flows around Florida and 

 passes east of North Carolina. 



These currents affect people and natural 

 ecosystems both on land and at sea. The data 

 could benefit shipping, improve preparedness 



the water column above it — as well as the wave 

 height, period and direction — will be installed. 



NATIONAL NETWDRK 



Other ocean observing systems are found 

 in North Carolina and across the country. For 

 example, the University of North Carolina 

 at Wilmington manages the Coastal Ocean 

 Research and Monitoring Program (CORMP) 



LEFT TO RIGHT: A NEW RADAR SYSTEM AT THE ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS FACILITY IN DUCK MEASURES OCEAN SURFACE 

 SEACDDS RECENTLY LAUNCHED A BUOY OFF CAPE LOOKOUT. THE NEW BUOY IS SET UP IN THE "BOATING SUPERHIGHWAY" 



measuring wind speed and direction, air 

 temperature, humidity, barometric pressure and 

 rainfall. A "surf cam" also serves up views of 

 the ocean near the pier. 



The project is a partnership of SEACOOS, 

 North Carolina Sea Grant, the North Carolina 

 Aquarium Society, the UNC Coastal Studies 

 Institute, Surfchex and the Outer Banks 

 Boarding Company. The U.S. Army Corps of 

 Engineers Field Research Facility in Duck is 

 providing technical support. 



"The education kiosk will spread the word 

 about weather and water conditions to new 

 audiences, including pier and surf fishermen," 

 says North Carolina Sea Grant fisheries 

 specialist Sara Mirabilio, who is based in 

 Manteo. "Displayed surface current information 

 also will help make it easier for fishermen to 

 find safe boating spots." 



The kiosk also will provide Coastal Ocean 

 Dynamics Applications Radar (CODAR) 

 surface current observations from SEACOOS 



for hurricanes and other storm effects, reduce 

 public health risks, and protect and restore 

 marine systems. 



"CODAR shows both the convergent and 

 divergent currents on the surface of the ocean," 

 says Mike Muglia, UNC Coastal Studies 

 Institute field research coordinator. "This 

 information may be useful in helping to find 

 good fishing areas." 



The system also has huge benefits for 

 search and rescue efforts. 



"If an aircraft goes down in the water, 

 CODAR could be used to track drifting crew 

 members," says North Carolina Sea Grant 

 Extension Director Jack Thigpen. "It also could 

 be used to monitor the movement of an outbreak 

 of harmful algae blooms that can contaminate 

 shellfish beds." 



In the near future, water temperature 

 sensors will be mounted on pilings at Jennette's 

 Pier. Also, an Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler 

 that measures the current speed and direction of 



that includes two real-time buoys in Onslow 

 Bay and one offshore from New River Inlet. The 

 system also includes a station at Johnny Mercer 

 Pier at Wrightsville Beach that provides current 

 and real-time wave data. 



Jeff Marshall, CORMP outreach and 

 education coordinator, says the data from the pier 

 provides a valuable tool for the NWS in making 

 rip current forecasts. 



Another buoy will be deployed off the New 

 River Inlet this year. The U.S. Marine staff at the 

 Marine Corps Base at Camp LeJeune will use the 

 real-time data when planning military training. 



Other states also have ocean observing 

 systems. In Florida's Tampa Bay, the Physical 

 Oceanographic Real-Time System was installed 

 in 1992. The system integrates real-time current, 

 water level, temperature, wave, visibility and 

 wind measurements collected every six minutes 

 at multiple locations in the bay. 



The technology, which provides 

 information about the marine environment to 



AUTUMN 2005 



