Water Quality Monitoring Units Successfully Installed in the St. Lucie Estuary, Florida
Over the summer, five Land/Ocean Biogeochemical Observatory (LOBO) units have been installed in the Indian River Lagoon and St. Lucie Estuary on the east coast of Florida. The LOBO units provide real-time, high-accuracy and high-resolution water-quality data and archived data via a simple web-based interface. The deployments of the LOBOs is part of the Indian River Lagoon Observatory (IRLO) Program established by FAU's Harbor Branch, a SECOORA member.
Water quality in the Indian River Lagoon has changed considerably over the last century due to urbanization. The IRLO water quality network is designed to address emerging issues of environmental health in the IRL system by achieving a better understanding of the biodiversity and ecological functions of the lagoon and how they are impacted by the surrounding human population.
The deployed LOBOs are measuring temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen, turbidity, CDOM (colored dissolved organic matter, or more simply, water color), chlorophyll (indicative of algae in the water column), nutrients (phosphate, nitrate), and current speed and direction. LOBOs can collect data 24/7 and allow real-time observation of significant events, such as water discharge, algal blooms, and storm events so that researchers can determine how these events are related to ecosystem change. Data from the LOBO units in the Indian River Lagoon will be integrated into the nationwide Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS) through SECOORA, allowing comparative studies both within Florida and in the nation (information found here).
A total of 9 LOBOs are expected to be installed along in the Indian River Lagoon. SECOORA is working with FAU to integrate the IRL data into SECOORA web site. The map to the right shows the proposed locations of the LOBOs. Click here to learn more.
Please contact IRL Principal Investigator - M. Dennis Hanisak,. at dhanisak@fau.edu for more information.
---
All images are credited to FAU
Over the summer, five Land/Ocean Biogeochemical Observatory (LOBO) units have been installed in the Indian River Lagoon and St. Lucie Estuary on the east coast of Florida. The LOBO units provide real-time, high-accuracy and high-resolution water-quality data and archived data via a simple web-based interface. The deployments of the LOBOs is part of the Indian River Lagoon Observatory (IRLO) Program established by FAU's Harbor Branch, a SECOORA member.
Water quality in the Indian River Lagoon has changed considerably over the last century due to urbanization. The IRLO water quality network is designed to address emerging issues of environmental health in the IRL system by achieving a better understanding of the biodiversity and ecological functions of the lagoon and how they are impacted by the surrounding human population.
.jpg)
The deployed LOBOs are measuring temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen, turbidity, CDOM (colored dissolved organic matter, or more simply, water color), chlorophyll (indicative of algae in the water column), nutrients (phosphate, nitrate), and current speed and direction. LOBOs can collect data 24/7 and allow real-time observation of significant events, such as water discharge, algal blooms, and storm events so that researchers can determine how these events are related to ecosystem change. Data from the LOBO units in the Indian River Lagoon will be integrated into the nationwide Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS) through SECOORA, allowing comparative studies both within Florida and in the nation (information found here).
A total of 9 LOBOs are expected to be installed along in the Indian River Lagoon. SECOORA is working with FAU to integrate the IRL data into SECOORA web site. The map to the right shows the proposed locations of the LOBOs. Click here to learn more.
Please contact IRL Principal Investigator – M. Dennis Hanisak,. at dhanisak@fau.edu for more information.
—
All images are credited to FAU
Related news
Gliders Officially Recognized as Essential Hurricane Monitoring Tools
A milestone years in the making: ocean gliders are now formally recognized as an essential component of the 2026 National Hurricane Operations Plan by the Interagency Council for Advancing Meteorological Services (ICAMS).
Longtime SECOORA Partner USF College of Marine Science Begins Recovery Efforts After Fire
Following the recent fire at the University of South Florida College of Marine Science, SECOORA is focused on supporting our partners and highlighting the importance of critical observing systems and maintaining the flow of coastal data. USF CMS plays an important role in delivering coastal data and observations that support communities across the Gulf and Southeast.
Empowering Communities: Real-Time Shoreline Monitoring in North Carolina
A new story map highlights how two cameras on Oak Island, North Carolina are being used to track changes along the coast from daily shifts in beach width to the impacts of major storms. These cameras provide continuous imagery that helps communities understand changing conditions and make informed management decisions.