Anchoring has been completed and testing of the first meteorological-oceanographic buoy on the open sea at the location near the channel of the Island of Vis has begun. Anchoring of the buoy is performed at depth of 105 meters. This is the first of five buoys installed by the Croatian Meteorological and Hydrological Service on the high seas in the territorial waters of the Republic of Croatia through the METMONIC project.
Buoys are anchored to the seabed by a system with two anchor lines with a maximum distance of 200 meters. Anchoring of other buoys will be done in the coming weeks, depending on meteorological conditions and sea conditions, at depths of 47 to 211 m along the open sea. The remaining four meteorological and oceanographic buoys will be anchored at locations near the Island of Palagruža, Molunat (near Dubrovnik), Island of Unije (Kvarner bay), Blitvenica cliff (near the Island of Žirje).
Buoys are independent sea objects that contain systems for measuring meteorological parameters, surface, and depth oceanographic parameters, as well as maritime navigation, power supply, and telecommunication systems. Dual meteorological sensors, sea surface wavemeter, and current meter for measuring of sea currents up to a depth of 150 m have been installed on the buoys. Croatian Meteorological and Hydrological Service’s sea measurement network is currently the most modern system for measuring of meteorological and oceanographic conditions in the entire Adriatic sea.
Data collected by the buoys will enable real-time monitoring of the Adriatic sea and will significantly improve Croatian Meteorological and Hydrological Service information in the field of the maritime meteorological service.
According to the Maritime Code of the Republic of Croatia, buoys are objects of maritime navigation safety and emit measured parameters via radio, GSM and satellite telecommunications. Measurement data will be transmitted in real-time to all ships with AIS radio systems within a certain radius. Light signaling and a passive radar reflector on the buoys will also significantly contribute to safety in the open sea.
Taken from meteo.hr.