Why some new weather buoys are being left in the Great Lakes this winter

As we head into winter, almost all of the buoys that have been bobbing in the Great Lakes during the warmer months have been retrieved and will stay out of the water until springtime. However, the NOAA Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory is testing out new buoys that can stay in the water all year long. And while they’re floating out there in the cold water, they’ll be collecting data.

Buoys make up an important part of weather forecasting for the Great Lakes and Michigan as a whole. Many buoys record and report weather information like temperatures of the air and water, wave height, and wind speed in areas where normal weather stations can’t be used. This weather data is then used to create forecasts by the National Weather Service and other meteorologists across our state and nearby states, as well as to monitor real-time conditions out on the water.

Lake and air temperatures and wind speed especially are useful for lake effect rain and snow forecasts, while wave heights and wind speed can help determine if conditions on the lake are safe for boaters and ships. However, many buoys can get damaged during the winter months on the Great Lakes due to ice on the water, and need to be retrieved. This leaves us with blank spots in our data during that time of year. NOAA’s Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory, or GLERL, has been looking into a solution for this.

This year, GLERL is going to test out brand new buoys on the waters of Lake Michigan that are built to survive the harsh conditions on the lakes during the wintertime. They are smaller, stronger buoys that can withstand the ice buildup on the lakes and will hopefully supply weather and water information year-round. Besides the buoys, robotic vehicles are also going to be used on the surface of the water and below it to test out gathering data about the ice thickness, underwater temperatures, and other scientific data throughout the winter season.

This is exciting research for weather forecasting. If the buoys and system of robotic vehicles work out, gaps that are normally present in meteorological data during winter will be able to be filled. This data can then be used to make better weather forecasts during the winter, and to help people whose hobbies and lives depend on the Great Lakes.

Longer dock means more boaters can visit this lighthouse island in Straits of Mackinac

HELENA ISLAND, MI – An historic island lighthouse in the Straits of Mackinac will be more accessible with the installation of a new roll-out dock extension.

Previously accessible only by dingy, boats of all sizes will be able visit the St. Helena Island Light Station when the dock is extended by 48 feet to a total of 140 feet from shore, the Cheboygan Daily News reports. The project is funded by a $19,550 grant from Enbridge.

The Great Lakes Lighthouse Keepers Association owns and manages the light station, the report said. Tours are provided by volunteers from mid-June to mid-August.

The lighthouse began operations in 1873, according to the association. Restoration efforts began in 1986. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1988. It’s located about 10 miles west of Mackinac Island.