Two second-generation weather and ocean observation buoys that were designed and deployed by a team of researchers at the Institute of Oceanography endured torturous weather conditions to relay unprecedented real-time readings as a super typhoon crossed their positions hundreds of kilometers off the southeast coast of Taiwan in early July.

After forming as the first powerful typhoon in the Northwest Pacific Ocean this year, Typhoon Nepartak headed towards Taiwan, delivering intense winds and torrential rainfall. Described as the strongest first typhoon of the year in history, Nepartak impacted Taitung County on July 8, causing over NT$700 million in losses. As disaster relief efforts continued in the typhoon's aftermath, weather forecasters once again became the target of criticism for the inaccuracy of their typhoon forecasts.

The Institute of Oceanography team had set off aboard the NTU research vessel Ocean Researcher I to deploy the observation buoys at the end of June. Led by Prof. Yiing-Jang Yang, the mission was aimed to provide real-time data to weather forecasting organizations to improve the accuracy of typhoon forecasting.

Based on historical records of typhoon paths, the team chose to position the buoys 175 kilometers to the east and 375 kilometers to the southeast of the southern tip of Taiwan. Within a week of the deployment, Typhoon Nepartak formed and began to develop into a super typhoon as it veered towards Taiwan, the buoys moored directly in its path.

On July 6, as the typhoon encroached on the more eastern buoy, called NTU 1, the researchers remained glued to their monitors as the data rolled in. They immediately sent the valuable data to weather forecasters at the Central Weather Bureau who were tracking the typhoon.

Approaching from the north, Typhoon Nepartak skirted past NTU 1. At the typhoon's closest point, the buoy's instruments recorded an air pressure of 940 hPa and maximum wind gusts of 41 meters per second. The data also showed that the typhoon's extreme agitation of the upper layer of the ocean caused the seawater temperature to fall sharply from 31°C to 28°C.

Just a few hours later, as the team continued to track the startling intensity of Typhoon Nepartak, the storm's eye passed just seven kilometers to the south of the buoy named NTU 2. Wind speeds reached a maximum of 44 meters per second, while the air pressure dropped below 900 hPa at one point. There powerful winds caused the upper 150 meters of seawater to churn and mix thoroughly.

The amazing in situ real-time data captured by the buoys set numerous precedents in the history of typhoon observation. International buoy observation specialists, besides recognizing the value of the data, praised the buoys for their demonstrated durability in surviving the ravages of a super typhoon.