In order to make data on Lake Michigan water quality available to the larger community of managers, researchers and educators, a web-based database is being developed that will allow users to access data via the internet. Lake Michigan pelagic monitoring buoy. The buoy includes meteorological instruments and an automated profiler that collects water quality data from the surface to a depth of 100 m several times per day. Location of the monitoring buoy. Plankton are collected at each station using several kinds of nets.
Every station is sampled first with an electronic device similar to the one on the buoy.
It measures temperature, oxygen, water clarity, and five other important parameters. Its use is particularly important in winter when the buoy is not operating.