| currents
|
Drifters, although modern, use a method of measuring
current that is at least 200 years old. Some drifters are very simple, like
the sealed bottle. Other more elaborate drifters send radio signals to instrument
buoys, ships or satellites. Scientists use these signals to track the speed
and direction of the currents that move the drifters. The
simple drift bottle contains a card for the finder to fill in with date
and place of discovery and then return to sender. This method, while effective,
has been discontinued by scientific organizations because of environmental
concerns about the ones that aren't found. |