DBOS - System

The Delaware Bay Observing System (DBOS) consists of a series of lighthouses equipped with oceanographic and meteorological instrumentation to measure the dynamic coupling between the atmospheric and ocean variability in the Bay. Our goal is to statistically determine the transfer functions between wind speed, direction, sea level, and current profile. Furthermore we wish to correlate these with distribution of other physical, biological, and chemical parameters. This will help in the development of statistical nowcast and forecast models to determine the wind-induced sea level and current variability based on the integrated database. The skill of the statistical model can be evaluated based on the real-time observations from DBOS.

The general node includes both meteorological and water column measurement systems. Solar panels and wind generators are designed to power a battery set necessary to power the different components of the system. The central part of the node is a Data Acquisition (DAQ) server that acts as a control as well as data storage (for the met. station). At the present time three different sensor systems are configured on the server: Weather station, and water borne sensors consisting of 1 ADCP and 3 CTs. The data are transferred to shore using an R/F link. This link also is used to communicate with the other lighthouse stations. A shore based computer station located at the Marine Operation Building, College of Marine Studies, then receive the data and archives it. This network is conceptually designed to cover a large area of the Delaware Bay and to allow the analysis of the spatial and temporal cross correlation between environmental parameters in the bay. In concept, this network is modular in that it can accept any innovative measurement system as an integrated node. Some pictures are shown here.