With the recent arrival of typhoons in the northwestern Pacific Ocean, several countries and regions have accelerated the deployment of high-intensity anchored bojas to increase ocean observation and typhoon preparedness. According to the latest data from the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), the 2025 typhoon season is expected to bring more frequent and heavier typhoons, inspiring countries such as Japan, China, the Philippines, and South Korea to increase funding to improve ocean observation networks to ensure the safety of coastal communities.
The Importance of High-Intensity Anchored Bojas
Boja anchors are ocean observation instruments attached to the seabed that enable long-term observation of key parameters such as sea surface temperature, air pressure, wind speed, wave height, and ocean currents. Unlike wave bojas, boja anchors are attached instead of specific anchor chains, making them ideal for observing dynamic changes in typhoon-prone regions. The new boja anchors are made of high-intensity corrosion-resistant materials and are designed to withstand extreme weather conditions, capable of withstanding high waves and strong winds caused by typhoons, ensuring continuous database collection.
Many countries are accelerating deployment.
To manage seasonal typhoon threats, several countries have significantly increased the deployment of anchored boja anchors before 2025:
* China: The China Meteorological Administration, together with the First Oceanographic Institute, has deployed 30 new anchored boja anchors in the South China Sea and the East China Sea, focusing on monitoring high-intensity weather conditions such as Typhoon Soudelor. The boja data supports flood prevention in coastal cities such as Shanghai and Guangzhou.
* Japan: Jamstec 20 has added high-intensity anchored boja anchors in the East China Sea and the Sea of Japan, equipped with advanced sensors and satellite communication systems. These beacons transmit real-time data to a connected Typhoon Warning Center (ITWC), improving typhoon forecasts. Philippines: The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) has added fifteen beacons to waters near Luzon Island, integrating them with technological monitoring drones to improve early warning capabilities for events like Typhoon Nyssa.
South Korea: The Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology (KIOST) has deployed ten beacons in the Yellow Sea and near Jeju Island to monitor typhoon-induced weather waves with the aim of protecting coastal fisheries and infrastructure. By July 2025, the total number of beacons anchored worldwide had increased to approximately 600, a 12% increase from 2023, forming a dense monitoring network covering the Northwest Pacific.
Challenges and International Cooperation
Despite progress in deploying anchored bojas, challenges remain. The high stability of BOJAs is expensive to produce and maintain, placing significant financial pressure on developing countries in particular. Furthermore, deploying them in the deep sea requires overcoming complex seafloor topography and ocean currents, placing very high technical demands. To address these issues, the Global Ocean Observation System (GOS) promotes multinational cooperation and technological and database communications resources. Japan, the United States, and China, through the Typhoon Observation Treaty, coordinate BOJA deployment and database integration to increase regional disaster preparedness. The United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) also provides technical assistance to help countries like the Philippines optimize their BOJA network.
Conclusion
Experts note that, with the increasing frequency of extreme weather events, improving early warning capabilities is key to reducing casualties and economic losses. The popularization of highly efficient anchored bojas is leading marine disaster monitoring from the "slow response" era to the new era of "real-time perception and early warning links."