Today on World Meteorological Day, the Irish Marine Institute and Ireland's National Meteorological Service, Met Éireann, are celebrating the 20th anniversary of the Irish Marine Data Buoy Observation Network. The theme of this year's World Meteorological Day is 'The ocean, our climate and weather' recognising the connection between the ocean, climate and weather within the Earth's system.

The Irish Marine Data Buoy Observation Network (IMDBON) has provided crucial data for weather forecasting and safety at sea for the past 20 years. The network of five offshore weather observing marine buoys around Ireland is managed by the Marine Institute in collaboration with Met Éireann and funded by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.

Since 2001, the IMDBON has been reporting hourly weather measurements of air temperature, humidity, atmospheric pressure, wind speed and direction as well sea surface temperature, wave height and wave period. The data from the network is processed and shared through Met Éireann's international networks, the Global Transmission System (GTS), used in its forecasting systems, and quality controlled for climatological purposes. The data buoys record valuable weather and marine observations from locations, which would have otherwise limited data coverage, and this information assists fishermen, mariners, emergency services and the public. Scientists also use the information provided by data buoys to conduct climate change research to understand how our weather patterns are changing.

The first data buoy was launched on November 6th 2000 at the M1 station, approximately 50 nautical miles west of Galway Bay. The project originated as a successful collaboration between Met Éireann, the Marine Institute, the UK Met Office and the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport.

"The Irish Marine Data Buoy Observation Network provides real-time updates on the weather and sea conditions around our coasts and supports ever more accurate and timely forecasts of extreme weather events. This essential infrastructure is making a difference in the protection of life, property and coastal communities and in all our seafaring activities," Eoin Moran, Director of Met Éireann said. "On the 20th anniversary of the buoy network we would like to thank the experts at the Marine Institute and Met Éireann, who pioneered development of this strategic network in the late 1990s. We also thank our dedicated colleagues who continue to support and improve this critical national resource," he added.

Maintenance work on a Marine Institute Weatherbuoy Photo: Nick Pfeiffer

The observations from IMDBON are also used as an invaluable input to Met Éireann's weather forecasts, as was the case during ex-hurricane Ophelia in 2017. The M3 buoy located off the coast of Cork and Kerry, directly in-line with the oncoming storm, relayed its observations of wind veer and thus was irreplaceable in identifying the system's position before it reached our coast. During ex-hurricane Ophelia in 2017, waves were recorded to a maximum height of 17.8 meters by the M5 buoy off the southeast coast.

In 2014, the M4 buoy located 75km off the northwest coast of Ireland recorded the largest recorded wave in Irish waters, measuring a maximum height of 23.4 meters (from wave trough to crest).

The most westerly buoy, M6, located hundreds of kilometres to the west of Ireland is one of four European sentinel synoptic weather buoys that directly provides strategically important data to support forecasting services throughout Europe. The IMDBON network serves as an integral part of Met Éireann's Sea Area Forecast.

The Marine Institute's marine research vessels the RV Celtic Voyager and the RV Celtic Explorer have largely been used to maintain and deploy data buoys since 2001, with assistance from various private operators and the Commissioners for Irish Lights' vessel ILV Granuaile. Over the past 20 years, the data buoys have been upgraded from the original UK Met Office designed ODAS buoys, to buoys in 2011 (which added capability of measuring maximum individual wave height and direction), to the modern fleet of custom-designed JFC Marine based buoys in 2020 that carry a Marine Institute designed and developed instrumentation and communications payload. All the systems have used satellite communications to transmit data to shore due to their distance from land.

Mick Gillooly, Director of Ocean Climate and Information Services at the Marine Institute said, "Our collaboration with Met Éireann on the Irish Marine Data Buoy Observation Network has been vital to Ireland's weather forecasting and oceanographic observation systems. The network has also enhanced our research in forecasting ocean and climate change, so we can provide better essential national services through observing and projecting regional and local impacts."

The mooring at M6 (pictured above) stretching down from the ocean surface to an anchor in the deep Rockall Trough, is over 3,500m Photo: Tomas Szumski

The mooring at M6, stretching down from the ocean surface to an anchor in the deep Rockall Trough, is over 3,500m. At this site, a string of instruments is also deployed that have oceanographic sensors along its length measuring salinity, temperature and currents over the upper 1,000m. Subtle changes in the deep ocean measured at this important location are used by scientists to understand how the ocean dynamics are responding to increasing global temperatures and climate change.

In 2016, building on the wealth of experience gained through the years, the Marine Institute supported by P&O Maritime Services, commenced research into new data buoy designs and technologies. Ongoing support from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine together with a research infrastructure grant from Science Foundation Ireland (18/RI/5731) enabled the network to be upgraded with a new generation of buoys with new sensor systems, replacing technology that had been in use since 2008. These new data buoys, weighing in excess of 5 tonnes and over 6 metres high, record oceanographic parameters in addition to the traditional meteorological measurements.

#Weather - The Marine Institute is preparing to carry out deployment and extended testing on a next-generation weather buoy from next week.

The ILV Granuaile (Callsign EIPT) will position the data buoy at 53°07.36'N 11°12.00'W. A Statutory Sanction will be in place.

The buoy is a yellow special mark buoy fitted with a yellow light with characteristics FL Y (5) 20 seconds.

Works are scheduled to begin on Monday 7 May and will continue until May 2019.