Panama to Expand Ocean Monitoring Network with Three New Tide Gauges
Panama plans to reinforce its ocean monitoring capabilities with the installation of three new tide gauges that will expand the country’s national oceanographic observation network and enhance early warning systems, navigational safety and scientific research. The project is being developed by the Institute of Meteorology and Hydrology of Panama (IMHPA) and Fundación Natura, with technical support from the Panama Maritime Authority (AMP).
Strategic locations for the new monitoring stations
The new instruments will continuously measure sea level and will be designed to incorporate sensors capable of monitoring water temperature and acidity (pH), while also enabling the early detection of tsunamis through satellite data transmission. The expanded network is expected to improve coastal risk management and provide valuable scientific data.
According to Arnulfo Sánchez, head of the AMP’s Environmental Office, the Authority is currently advising IMHPA on identifying locations that offer the best oceanographic and operational conditions for installing the equipment.
Preliminary assessments have identified Punta Coco, in the Pearl Islands archipelago, as the first suitable location. A marina in San Carlos, Panamá Oeste Province, has also been selected for a second station, while the third site remains under evaluation, with the Achotines Laboratory and the pier under construction in Cañas, Tonosí, among the locations being considered.
The AMP currently operates a tide gauge in El Porvenir, Guna Yala, donated in 2011 by UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission and the University of Hawaii. The station transmits real-time data to the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center in Hawaii and forms part of the Global Sea Level Observing System, contributing oceanographic information to the international scientific community.
Strengthening scientific research and coastal resilience
The addition of the three new stations will significantly enhance Panama’s marine monitoring capacity, generating strategic data for the production of nautical charts, sea level analysis, climate change research, and the planning of port, tourism and fisheries activities. The network will also support the creation of long-term oceanographic data records of high scientific value.
Each tide gauge is estimated to cost approximately US$50,000, including sensors and five years of maintenance. Funded by Fundación Natura, the stations will be installed on high-stability platforms equipped with underwater and surface sensors, as well as solar panels to ensure autonomous operation.
Once the project is completed, Panama will have four operational tide gauges—three on the Pacific coast and one in the Caribbean. The AMP is also assessing the installation of a fifth station at the Multipurpose Pier in Puerto Armuelles, Chiriquí Province, due to the area’s seismic activity and its strategic importance for strengthening ocean monitoring and tsunami early warning systems.
The initiative is expected to position Panama as a regional leader in sea level monitoring and oceanographic data management, reinforcing navigational safety, protecting coastal communities and supporting evidence-based decision-making through high-precision scientific data.
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