Thanks to new technology, you can now get up-to-date wind speed, water and air temperature, wave height and more, by texting a buoy — yes, a buoy!
By simply texting 734-418-7299 or 734-201-0750 with the ID of one of the 68 buoys that are part of the Great Lakes Observing System, you will receive real-time observations out on the water. Each buoy costs about $50,000; some are privately funded while others are publicly funded. Sensors built in Yellow Springs, Ohio track waves just like a fitness tracker counts steps. To find the Great Lakes buoy nearest you, visit glbuoys.glos.us.
