Media Spotlights

A new ocean buoy off Guam’s southwestern coast is revealing major wave differences between the island’s shores, with 10-foot waves recorded in Hågat during a storm compared to just 2 feet on the east side. The project, reported by The Guam Daily Post, is already aiding boaters, emergency responders, and coastal planners with real-time ocean data.

The Guam Coastal Management Program, in partnership with PacIOOS, has deployed the first of two ocean-monitoring buoys off the southwestern coast near Hågat. A second buoy will be placed near Cocos Lagoon by the end of July.

These bright yellow, solar-powered buoys provide real-time wave and temperature data accessible via mobile and web platforms. The initiative supports safer navigation for fishers and boaters, aids coastal erosion planning, and helps monitor coral reef health. Locations were selected through community input, and local volunteers will assist with maintenance.

The Guam Daily Post reports two basketball-sized “Backyard Buoys” will deploy off Guam’s southwest coast by late June in partnership with PacIOOS. Solar-powered with cellular modems, they’ll stream free wave and temperature data to fishermen, boaters, and engineers. Locations were community-chosen; volunteers will handle upkeep.

KYUK Public Media article reports that Quinhagak’s Search & Rescue nonprofit will deploy three “Backyard Buoys” this summer. These solar-powered devices stream real-time wave height, temperature and pressure to a phone app, letting subsistence hunters and boaters plan safer trips. Community members choose locations and handle seasonal deployments.

Wave data project helping Alaska subsistence hunters stay safe at sea returns, with plans to expand’ highlights how the Backyard Buoys initiative’s 2023 pilot gave Wainwright hunters real-time wave measurements via buoys and a prototype app to improve safety on the water. After its success, the program is set to grow—deploying 30 buoys across more Alaskan villages and extending through 2027, while also serving Pacific Northwest and Pacific Island communities.

The ocean is their garden’ showcases the Backyard Buoys project, which equips North Slope whalers with compact, affordable wave buoys to deliver real-time sea-state data. Backed by a $4.98 million NSF grant, it blends Indigenous knowledge and scientific tools to boost safety, self-determination, and climate resilience in Alaska’s subsistence communities.