Stone said offshore information is gathered from oil production platforms and from other activities in the Gulf. However, that data is often inaccurate, Stone said. It's a matter of quality control. Buoys would provide good information, but Stone and others propose 10 stations affixed to structures such as oil rigs. The stations would give real-time measurements about wave action and storm surge.
Buoys ride up and down with the rise in water.
The stationary instruments would relay more information, especially on waves and surge, Stone said. The stations could do more than gather storm information. The instruments could also help officials plan and evaluate coastal restoration projects and provide information on currents and waves for oil-spill response, Stone said. Stone hopes to have a test station in place a mile or two off Isles Dernieres this summer while officials, including members of Congress, work on finding federal funds. Stone said the gap in the line of buoys in the Gulf along Louisiana's coast is amazing.