If you’ve recently been for a walk or a swim alongside Busselton Jetty, you may have seen a mysterious floating yellow object off the eastern side, bobbing away not far from the Underwater Observatory.
Busselton Jetty’s SoFar SmartMooring is a solar-powered unit with sensors at both the surface and seafloor, collecting hourly measurements of wind, wave conditions, and water temperature – key indicators for understanding coastal and offshore environments.
Unlike traditional monitoring systems, which require loggers to be removed from the water and the data manually downloaded onto a computer, the SmartMooring uploads its data directly to an online dashboard, making the information easily accessible to both researchers and members of the public. This open-access approach provides valuable insight into conditions along one of Western Australia’s most visited coastlines.
As the oceans face increasing pressures from climate variability and marine heatwaves, continuous, reliable data plays a critical role in understanding how ocean ecosystems respond to change, and how researchers, decision-makers, and the wider community can make evidence-based decisions to support the future of our marine world.
The Busselton Jetty SmartMooring works in conjunction with Busselton Jetty’s other marine monitoring initiatives, including hourly temperature logging dating back to 2001, twice-daily marine life surveys from the Underwater Observatory, and our Underwater Sculpture Park monitoring program. Combined with citizen science data contributed by visitors from around the world, the Busselton Jetty Environment Foundation is building a holistic repository of marine data in Australia’s South West.
The SmartMooring allows Busselton Jetty to deepen collaborative partnerships with other marine institutions, including Aqualink, a not-for-profit global reef monitoring platform, and AusWaves, a national network of marine monitoring equipment, managed in collaboration with the University of Western Australia. By integrating with these platforms, the Busselton Jetty SmartMooring strengthens access to marine data along Australia’s southwest coast, making it easier to discover, compare, and use alongside other national and global datasets.
Members of the public are encouraged to explore the SmartMooring data and see firsthand how ocean conditions evolve hour by hour. Whether you’re a researcher, a student, or simply someone with a love for the ocean, the SmartMooring offers a window into the dynamic marine environment just offshore from Busselton Jetty.
To see for yourself from the comfort of your home or classroom, you can view Busselton Jetty’s Aqualink Profile, or view Australia’s wider network of monitoring buoys at AusWaves.org. You can combine this information with views from our Live Underwater Webcams and our iNaturalist project page to gain even further insights into Busselton Jetty’s marine environment, from anywhere in the world.
The Busselton Jetty SmartMooring was purchased with generous support from Rio Tinto and Aqualink, allowing us to continue and enhance our marine monitoring programs for the benefit of Australia’s marine environments.
