High-tech Weather Buoy launched on Lake Michigan near Nuclear Plant (May 2015)

from Harbor Country web platform:
Indiana Michigan Power’s Cook Nuclear Plant has again launched its high-tech weather buoy in Lake Michigan. This year, in addition to making the extensive weather and water data available to the public online, there is also a camera providing still and video clips.

The buoy is equipped with a range of high-tech instruments that can transmit air temperature, wind speed and direction, water current speed and direction, wave height and water temperatures at several depths below the surface. The still images and video clips are taken once each hour and can also be accessed online to see the exact conditions out on the lake. Information about the buoy and a link to real-time data is available at http://bit.ly/cookbuoy and www.CookInfo.com.

The buoy was originally launched in 2011 by Cook to collect data for a two-year water intake study at the plant. The data was made available to the public and became so popular with recreational boaters and fishing enthusiasts that Cook has continued to launch the buoy each spring even though the water intake study is complete. “We know that boaters love the data, and the addition of the images is a great safety feature,” said Cook Environmental Manager Jon Harner. “Conditions can change quickly on Lake Michigan and this new camera will provide up-to-date images boaters can use to stay safe.”

The buoy is deployed and maintained by LimnoTech, an Ann Arbor-based company specializing in Great Lakes monitoring and modeling. It is located two and a half miles from the shore in front of the plant in 70 feet of water. It will remain in operation through the fall. LimnoTech is currently working directly with the Great Lakes Observing System (GLOS) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to increase the number of environmental sensors in the Great Lakes and to improve the availability of the data to water quality managers and the public.
http://www.harborcountry-news.com/articles/2015/05/13/features/doc554a38705546c214168967.txt