Oceanology Improves Weather Monitoring
An AXYS WatchMate1.8DM buoy has been deployed in the external port of La Coruña, Spain. The WatchMate oceanographic buoy strengthens the weather monitoring programme operated by Puertos del Estado (PdE) in the Galicia region. The buoy system monitors additional strategic environmental parameters over the existing REDCOS TRIAXYS buoys for operation of the port and to improve the local marine weather forecasting models.
The WatchMate transmits oceanographic and meteorological data like directional waves, marine currents, salinity, sea surface temperature, wind (speed and direction), atmospheric pressure and temperature. Puertos del Estado can also expand these capabilities to add more sensors including: water quality- chlorophyll, BGA, CDOM, turbidity, nitrates, hydrocarbons, and other instruments- current profilers, radiometers PAR and UV, etc.
The WatchMate buoy features a redundant safety system, including AXYS' WatchCircle Alarm service (GPS position through Inmarsat satellite), Aid to Navigation Automatic Identification System (AtoN AIS), dual radar reflectors and several full duplex communication systems (GPRS, Radio modem, and Inmarsat satellite), which ensures distribution of data via multiple telemetries and monitoring the position and status of all buoy systems.