Mariner Weather Buoy
The Hudson Canyon will get a real-time weather buoy. Officially named 44066, this new buoy will also be known as Texas Tower Four in memory of the men who served on the offshore radome Texas Tower 4 in the early 1960s. It is replacing 44004, which was located 100 miles further offshore. Deployment of the new TT4 buoy will take place between 18th and 22nd June subject to weather conditions.
Three years ago MACOORA had initiated a discussion among the agencies, based on recreational and commercial user needs, for a real-time weather buoy to be placed off the Mid-Atlantic coast for improved climatic ocean observations. These observations would add to the safety of mariners using those waterways for recreation and commerce and add to the science of ocean processes.
The 44066 is three-meters in size, weighing 3800 lbs, and will be anchored in a depth of 250 feet. MACOORA and its members plan to work with the NDBC in future use of this platform for added data including sub-surface currents, underwater sea temperatures, chlorophyll, and thermocline fluctuations. These added features are planned for both scientific and mariner use, and for increasing knowledge and interest in our ocean.
This deployment is the success of collaboration between government and stakeholders. The U.S. Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS), the Mid-Atlantic Coastal Ocean Observing Regional Association (MACOORA), the National Weather Service (NWS), and the National Data Buoy Center (NDBC) are proud to be partners in announcing this re-positioned and important continental shelf buoy placement.
The TT4 buoy will be placed at the Hudson Canyon and will augment the new Hudson to Baltimore forecast zone by having this buoy placed directly in the weather zone window adding an extra layer of modeling efficiency to daily offshore marine forecasts.
Due to the delicacy of instrumentation and importance to the NWS offshore forecasts and mariner safety, it is imperative that no vessels approach this buoy. Repair service will be intermittent and all vessels are subject to fines if interfering with the buoy operation.
