The U.S. Government is closed. This site will not be updated; however NOAA websites and social media channels necessary to protect lives and property will be maintained. To learn more, visit www.commerce.gov. For the latest forecast and critical weather information, visit www.weather.gov. 

The U.S. government is closed. This site will not be updated; however, NOAA websites and social media channels necessary to protect lives and property will be maintained. To learn more, visit commerce.gov. 

For the latest forecasts and critical weather information, visit weather.gov.

Researchers Successfully Test Wave-Rider Buoy to Track Storm Intensity

Man and woman stand on a boat releasing buoys tethered with ropes.
Researchers deploy a test wave-rider buoy (further away) alongside a separate buoy (closer to boat) from a boat off of Allen Harbor in Narragansett Bay, Rhode Island, to check their equipment for accuracy. Since the test was successful, the team will install the same model for the duration of their study to collect data on storm and wave intensity. Credit: University of Rhode Island.

In late spring 2025, an NCCOS-funded research team was awarded $7,360 to successfully install and test a wave-rider buoy that will be used to collect wave data in Narragansett Bay, Rhode Island. The buoy will help scientists monitor and characterize storms. This research builds onto a larger Effects of Sea Level Rise (ESLR) project that explores how effectively natural infrastructure (such as living shorelines and restored sand dunes) protects beaches from storm surges and sea level rise. Equipped with satellite communication that transmits data to researchers via an online portal every thirty minutes, the buoy will provide the team with access to wave data in near–real time.

U.S. coastal states have increasingly invested resources toward protecting coastal communities from erosion and flooding using natural infrastructure. However, a critical gap in many projects is the ability to assess the effectiveness of natural infrastructure under varying storm conditions. Data from the research team’s wave-rider buoy will inform assessments of southern Rhode Island’s beach barrier systems in the face of extreme weather. 

Researchers, with the help of undergraduate students from the University of Rhode Island, deployed the buoy alongside a similar wave-measuring device to check for consistency in the measurements across both instruments. This direct comparison validated the accuracy of the buoy, allowing the team to proceed with collecting wave and storm data for their research project. Future work will include comparisons with wave-sensing lidar and the testing of wave reconstruction algorithms to better characterize waves in the nearshore environment.

left: two small buoys on a bench. right: two small buoys in water tethered with a rope.
Left: The two wave-rider buoys before deployment (the left-hand buoy is the model that will be used in the study, while the right-hand buoy was temporarily installed to compare results for accuracy). Right: the two wave-rider buoys in the water post-deployment. Credit: University of Rhode Island.

This project is funded through the NCCOS Effects of Sea Level Rise (ESLR) Event Response Program. The ESLR Event Response Program augments current or prior research to help offset the costs of immediate mobilization to gather data before, during, and following acute events that are difficult to plan as part of a scientific study.

This work is authorized by the NOAA Authorization Act of 1992, Pub. L. 102-567 (Oct. 29, 1992); sec. 201(c), which directs appropriation for the NCCOS Competitive Research Program to augment and integrate existing NOAA programs, with a specific focus on improving predictions of coastal hazards and protecting human life and property.

Explore Similar News