Ella Jones (BS Oceanography) is working with Dr. Tomas Oppenheim (ME) to launch an ocean observing moored buoy in the San Francisco Bay. Once operational, the buoy system will collect and transmit data in real-time, including meteorological, wave, and water quality measurements. The buoy is designed to be flexible, allowing for additional of additional instrumentation in the future. This project will expand the geographic coverage of water quality observations and ocean physics into San Pablo Bay, a relatively understudied region of our estuary, providing data to inform responsible stewardship of our natural resources.

For Ella, it was her curiosity for marine science technology that led to her involvement in the project. “It has taught me a lot about how much work goes into marine observing systems, from research, to fabrication, coding, and wiring, never mind the actual deployment. This has been a great opportunity for me to develop more technical skills and to put my problem-solving abilities to the test”.

Dr. Oppenheim added “This project provides a real-world and hands-on collaborative research experience for undergraduates in Oceanography and Mechanical Engineering. Students gain experience in mechanical design, fabrication, electronics, data communication and storage, and data analysis”.