ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) — As ice thaws around the Great Lakes, technicians are preparing to re-deploy buoys that gather a wealth of information for use in research, water safety efforts and recreation.

About a dozen research institutions operate buoys in the lakes. Many of them provide data to the nonprofit Great Lakes Observing System, which makes it available online.

Its website offers real-time data from the buoys, which are returned to the water as soon as harbors and boat launches are ice-free.