Penobscot Bay Marine Data

The Pen Bay Marine Data project establishes and operates sensor networks in Penobscot Bay, Maine. Data produced through this project will be shared on the NERACOOS Mariners dashboard, and are also available by request. Please contact nkeeney@hurricaneisland.net with questions about buoy deployments and data access.

Information used for siting decisions are displayed on an interactive map below. This includes point and polygon locations referenced in site selection analysis. You can view a full-screen version of the map here. Zoom in to see more detailed features and data, sourced from NOAA, Maine Departments of Environmental Protection (DEP) and Marine Resources (DMR), and the Maine Office of GIS.

Buoys

Our data collection platform is a modified YSI DB600 series buoy. This modular system allows us to deploy and recover buoys from smaller vessels, and configure each site with sensors specifically selected for the needs of the local community. The buoys are internet-connected through a cell phone network, and report hourly. They are named after three wee fishermen of Eugene Field’s classic poem.

Wynken

The oceanic site is in lower Penobscot Bay, at Hurricane Island. It is located near our experimental aquaculture lease to provide farm-based research projects with continuous, high-quality environmental data. It is a USCG-permitted private aid to navigation (PATON), and appears on charts as Hurricane Island Research Buoy A. This site will be brought online in April 2025.

Blynken

We are currently selecting a second site near Islesboro. It will be on the western side of the island, “in the river”, likely near Ram Island and Sprague Ledge. Site selection is being done in collaboration with community members and marine-dependent businesses. This site has more freshwater influence, and experiences reversing flows depending on river discharge and weather patterns. It will be deployed and brought online in June 2025.

Nod

Although we have three buoys, we only deploy two observing systems at a time. This ensures that data at each location is continuous and of high-quality. While the third system is out of the water we calibrate, clean, prepare it to swap in for the others, which happens about every two weeks. This also lets us experiment with embedded computing and onboard data processing, and incrementally improve the system over time, without downtime. It also means we can bring a buoy to your school or event for demonstrations and training. Reach out if you are interested in arranging a visit.