With the increasing frequency of extreme weather events and the continued warming of the oceans, countries around the world are accelerating the renewal of their networks to monitor the oceans and climate. Recently, the Global Wave-based Program (GDP), coordinated by the Global Ocean Observation System (GOOS), announced that the number of new wave-based intelligent buoys deployed worldwide increased by nearly 60% year-over-year in the first half of 2025, reaching a record high.
Innovation of Intelligent Wave Buoys
Since its inception in 1979, GDP, supported by the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), has become a vital pillar of global ocean observation. The latest generation of Wave Buoys technology uses a high-precision Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) and is equipped with advanced sensors to measure key parameters such as sea surface temperature, atmospheric pressure, wind speed and direction, salinity, and waves in real time. Compared to traditional floating buoys, these buoys use next-generation artificial intelligence control programs to optimize data collection and transmission efficiency, significantly improving the accuracy and performance of the monitors. "These intelligent floating buoys are like advanced technological police in the ocean," said Rick Lumpkin, director of the NOAA Global Floating Buoys Program. "They not only provide real-time information, but also rapidly transmit this information to global meteorological centers via satellite communications systems for use in weather forecasting and climate research."
Since 2023, the Type C and Type D GNSS floating buoys, developed by the First China Oceanographic Institute (FIO), have further improved their monitoring capabilities, measuring seawater temperature and salinity structure, as well as underwater noise at depths from 0 to 300 meters, respectively. This provides new insights into marine ecological protection and the study of climate events, such as El Niño.
Disposal Record
According to NOAA, as of July 2025, the total number of global wave traps exceeded 1,450, an increase of approximately 16% from 1,250 in 2020, setting a new record. These traps are classified by research vessels, commercial vessels, and volunteers, covering key oceans in the Pacific, Atlantic, and Indian Oceans. Through the 2024 RAMA Tropical Wave Trap Patrol, anchored in the Indian Ocean, ten new intelligent wave traps were added, further expanding the capabilities of monitoring tropical climate phenomena.
A Powerful Tool to Combat Climate Change
The widespread deployment of intelligent wave traps has brought significant benefits to the Global Climate Monitor. In 2023, scientific data from wave traps helped document the unusually intense sea tide in the Northern Hemisphere, highlighting the threat of rising sea surface temperatures (SSTs) and the bleaching of coral reefs and marine ecosystems. The coral bleaching event near Florida Beach in July of this year demonstrated the importance of further real-time monitoring.
Furthermore, the data supports Buoy's El Niño and La Niña forecasts, helping global agriculture and fisheries prepare for extreme weather. In 2024, Wave Buoys captured anomalies in the current tropical Pacific Ocean, providing critical evidence for early warning.
Experts indicate that, as climate risks increase, global demand for high-density climate observation equipment, automats, and remote pilots continues to grow. "Intelligent wave buoys are not only scientific instruments, but also a vital part of the global climate management system," Dr. Márquez confirmed.
