Stone said offshore information is gathered from oil production platforms and fromother activities in the Gulf. However, that data is often inaccurate, Stone said. It's a matter of qualitycontrol. Buoys would provide good information, but Stone and others propose 10 stations affixedto structures such as oil rigs. The stations would give real-time measurements about waveaction and storm surge.
Buoys ride up and down with the rise in water.
The stationary instruments would relaymore information, especially on waves and surge, Stone said. The stations could do more than gatherstorm information. The instruments could also help officials plan and evaluate coastal restorationprojects 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 thissummer 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 isamazing.