Student-built, fishermen-deployed, satellite-tracked “drifters” provide a low-cost means to monitor currents off the New England coast and beyond. These instruments are constructed according to oceanographic standards to move with the current and report their positions on a regular basis. While most of the units are “surface drifters” marking the upper meter of the water column, “drogues” are attached in some cases to mark the deeper flow. One of the primary motivations for drifter deployments is to help validate the many numerical circulation models as well as the growing network of CODAR systems. The dataset to conduct such studies is rapidly growing.
NEFSC Drifter Program
Drifter Overview
Goals of the Drifter Program at the Northeast Fisheries Science Center are:
To maximize deployments, students involvement, data use
To minimize redundant development, cost, effort, and windage
To maintain oceanographic standards
History:
In 2004, funding was provided by NOAA's Northeast Consortium as part of the Environmental Monitors on Lobster Traps project (see emolt.org). The Gulf of Maine Lobster Foundation, the Southern Maine Community College, and NOAA's Northeast Fisheries Science Center were interested in tracking the potential transport of early-staged larvae along the coast of Maine. In recent years, additional support has come from National Science Foundation and elsewhere to conduct a series of workshops for educators around the country.
Applications funded to date include:
- Lobster larvae advection
- Harmful Algal Blooms advection
- Zooplankton advection
- Educational demonstration
- Invasive crab dispersal
- Transient eddy formations
- Oil spill tracking
- Fish larvae (salmon,cod,herring) transport
- Power plant effluent dispersal
- Tidal power assessment
Some partners involved and their role:
- Gulf of Maine Lobster Foundation non-profit processes orders
- AXXON manufacturers the GPS transmitters
- Southern Maine Community College Marince Science Department assembles parts
- CommTechMobile is the satellite service provider
- Globalstar float the low-orbitting satellites
- NOAA promotes the use of these drifters and processes the data
- NERACOOS helps make data accessible
Interested scientist and educators should contact Jim at, james.manning@noaa.gov and Erin Pellitier, erin@gomlf.org
Drifter Map
Drifter School Deployments
Global Charter Learning School
New England Science and Sailing
Newton North High School/Zephyr
Truro Central School and Brewster Family School
University of New Hampshire- Summer 2014 and Fall 2014
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution/i2 Camp
Drifter Resources
Student-built, fishermen-deployed, satellite-tracked “drifters” provide a low-cost means to monitor currents off the New England coast and beyond. These instruments are constructed according to oceanographic standards to move with the current and report their positions on a regular basis. One of the primary motivations for drifter deployments is to help validate circulation models.
Why drifters? Over the past decade, funding has increased in support of using surface drifters for environmental monitoring that far exceeds the study of surface currents and circulation. Research using drifters has included investigations into plankton dispersal, movement of harmful algal blooms, oil spills, and tidal power assessments.
Drifters are equipped with a beacon that transmits its location to an end-user via satellite, although other environmental sensors may be attached. Teachers work with a local boater or fisherman to have the drifter deployed offshore and to retrieve the drifter. Shore-based deployments may also be possible.
Construction Manuals for Surface Drifter
Latitude and Longitude: Tracking Your Drifter with Real-time Data, Grades 5-8 Lesson Plan, 2014
Where Did the Rubber Bath Toys Go?, Grades K-8, Sea Grant Alaska
Weather and Circulation Systems, Grades K-8, Sea Grant Alaska
Waves and Tides, Grades K-8, Sea Grant Alaska
Temperature and Salinity Effects on Deep Ocean Currents, Grades K-8, Sea Grant Alaska
Global Ocean Conveyor Belt, Grades K-8, Sea Grant Alaska
"Ducks in the Flow" Lesson Plans: Going with the Flow and The Ocean in Motion, Grades 3-5, 2008, University Corporation for Atmospheric Research
Investigating Earth's Hydrosphere: Ocean Currents and Salinity, Grades 5-12, Polar Trec
Ocean Conveyor Belt, Grades 8-12, C MORE Science Kits
Ocean Currents and Drifters, Grades 9-12 Lesson Plan, 2014
Motion in the Ocean: What Causes Waves and Ocean Currents?, Grades 9-12
Read Set Drift!: Coastal Currents and Navigation, Grades 9-12
Climate Change and Currents, Grades 9-12
The Coriolis Effect, Grades 9-12
Ups and Downs: What Causes Tides?, Grades 9-12
Climate Change and Tides, Grades 9-12
The Science Behind Global Positioning, Grades 9-12
I Know Where You Are: An Introduction to Global Positioning, Grades 9-12
Programming Lesson Plan, Undergraduate, 2015
Currents and Drifters Lab, Elements of Oceanography (OCEA-105) 2012, Dr. Charles Gregory
Adroitly Adrift, by Ari Daniel- http://coseenow.net/podcast/2010/02/drifter/ February 2010
Script: http://coseenow.net/podcast/files/2010/02/og28script.pdf
Students Launch Ocean Drifter, Nautilus Live, 2014
Ocean Commotion: Caught in the Currents by Janeen Mason
The Mysterious Ocean Highway: Benjamin Franklin and the Gulf Stream by Deborah Heiligman
Ocean Currents: Marine Science Activities for Grades 5-8 by Catherine Halversen, Kevin Beals, Craig Strang
Physical Oceanography Second Edition by Brent A. Ford and P. Sean Smith
Tracking Trash: Floatsam, Jetsam, and the Science of Ocean Motion by Loree Griffin Burns
Physical Oceanography Revised Second Edition by Alfredo L. Aretxabaleta, Gregg R. Brooks, and Nancy W. West
Key Concepts:
- Drifting buoys are part of the Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS).
- Drifting buoys collect data on sea surface temperature, sea level pressure, and ocean surface current patterns.
- Knowledge of the ocean surface currents can be used to predict the track of a buoy.
- Drifting buoys transmit data to satellites, which send them to data collection centers where they can be accessed online.
Potential Focus Questions:
- How are ocean surface currents formed?
- What are some of the ocean surface currents and where do they flow?
- What kinds of data can drifting buoys collect?
- How can we predict the track of a drifting buoy?
- How can the data from drifting buoys be used?
National Science Education Standards Grade 5 to 8
National Science Education Standards Grade 9 to 12
Ocean Literacy Principles Addressed (Grades K-12):
- Principle 1: The Earth has one big ocean with many features.
- Fundamental Concept: c
- Principle 7: The Ocean is largely unexplored.
- Fundamental Concepts: b, d, e, f
Atmospheric Science Literacy Principles Addressed:
- Essential Principle 5: Earth’s atmosphere continuously interacts with the other components of the Earth System.
Climate Literacy Principles Addressed:
- Essential Principle 2: Climate is regulated by complex interactions among components of the Earth System.
- Fundamental Concepts: A, B
- Essential Principle 5: Our understanding of the climate system is improved through observations, theoretical studies, and modeling.
- Fundamental Concept: B
State Science Standard(s) Addressed:
- Will differ depending on your state