Researchers from the University of Buffalo in New York have made it their mission to equip oceans with Wi-Fi.

Researchers from the University of Buffalo in New York have made it their mission to equip oceans with Wi-Fi.

Doing so, they say, will help out both humanity and sea life in a number of ways.

Those range from earlier detection of tsunamis to the ability to protect marine animals from oncoming shipping traffic.

The greatest benefit better oceanic Internet service would provide is the ability to monitor happenings in real time and over a broader area.

Current underwater electronic communication systems incorporate sensors attached to the sea floor and receptors hitched to buoys and even sea turtles.

Not only is the transport of information slow it’s limited as not all of the receptors communicate with one another.

In addition to creating a more complete picture of what’s going on in the ocean, WiFi will allow that information to be sent to an array of enabled devices above the surface.

Earlier detection of potential disasters, for example, could save lives by allowing people to get a jump on evacuation.

One of the hurdles the project has yet to clear, though, is bridging the gap between the unique and incompatible requirements of underwater and land wireless communications.