September 3, 2026 — A new tool to measure environmental conditions in the Gulf of Maine off New Hampshire’s shoreline is now up and running.
Researchers at the University of New Hampshire and partners deployed acoustic and oceanographic sensors near the Isles of Shoals. The system is the first of its kind on the East Coast.
Located 10 miles offshore and 3 miles east of Appledore Island, the system will transmit oceanographic and acoustic data in real time.
“Measurements made with this valuable ocean asset will serve as a baseline for analyses of environmental conditions in this busy, productive area of the Gulf of Maine,” said Jennifer Miksis-Olds, director of UNH’s Center for Acoustics Research and Education and interim vice president for research and innovation. “This will expand our understanding of the ocean in real time.”
The sensors will detect human and marine mammal activity, wind and precipitation, sea ice dynamics and oceanographic features, with implications for national security, energy development and commercial fisheries, officials said.
The data is also expected to shed light on the connections between coastal measurements and the overall Gulf of Maine environment.