Wind buoy takes to Lake Michigan for third year

By on April 12, 2013
The Wind Sentinel buoy will measure wind conditions on Lake Michigan (Credit: GVSU)


Grand Valley State University is preparing to monitor Lake Michigan’s wind patterns through a sophisticated wind buoy for the third and final year, according to MLive.

The U.S. Department of Energy helped fund the buoy, which uses laser pulse technology to measure wind speed and direction at different heights above the surface of the lake. The buoy can also measure wave heights, basic water quality and bat and bird activities.

One of the applications of the retrieved data will be to inform the commercial wind energy sector of the strength and consistency of Lake Michigan’s winds, which might make the region prime real-estate for offshore wind farms.

Image: The Wind Sentinel buoy will measure wind conditions on Lake Michigan (Credit: GVSU)

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