drifter results

Spring/Summer 2007 Launches

Launch Location	Date Deployed	Deployer (track)	ID# (Speed)	Fate
Truro	8 May	R/V ALBATROSS	75291	Georges Bank w/intermittent transmissions
		R/V ALBATROSS	75292	Georges Bank w/very few intermittent transmissions
		R/V ALBATROSS	75293	stalled on Cultivator Shoals, moved on to SE Georges by late June, and recovered Tommy D'entremont, a Lower East Pubnico Nova Scotian swordfisherman, on 6 July..
	29 May	R/V ALBATROSS	75294	Georges Bank
		R/V ALBATROSS	75295	Georges Bank
		R/V ALBATROSS	75296	Great South Channel
Cape Ann	19 May	R/V ENDEAVOR	75201	Mass Bay gyre, stalled on Nantucket Shoals,...
		R/V ENDEAVOR	75202	slow start and on to Great South Channel
		R/V ENDEAVOR	75203	Georges Bank w/very intermittent transmissions
Isle au Haut	21 May	R/V ENDEAVOR	75381	Ashore on Matinicus and redeployed by lobsterman, John Mitchell
		R/V ENDEAVOR	75382	core of coastal current!!
		R/V ENDEAVOR	75383	entrained in coastal current, sighted and reported by Mike Anderson of Rye NH, searched for by my Wellfleetian niece, Linnette Letendre and her buddy, found by Arthur Cashin of Nashville, Ten. on the beach of his Wellfleet home, and successfully recovered by my Wellfleetian nephew, Robbie Letendre, and his buddy
		R/V ENDEAVOR	75384	mid-gulf
		R/V ENDEAVOR	75385	mid-gulf
		R/V ENDEAVOR	75386	mid-gulf
Bay of Fundy	24 May	R/V ENDEAVOR	75461	Ashore at mouth of Passamaquoddy, attempted recovery by Dana of "Island Shellfish", and subsequently found be Tim Miller on south side of Indian Island
		R/V ENDEAVOR	75462	escaped BoF gyre, sent last transmission on 6 June off Jonesport Maine after apparently getting caughtup in gear, and found by Micah Philbrook off Rockland Maine w/out drogue
		R/V ENDEAVOR	75463	escaped BoF first, caught in gear, and recovered by Eric Green of Gran Manan
		R/V ENDEAVOR	75464	escaped BoF gyre, circled Jordan's Basin, ...
		R/V ENDEAVOR	75465	apparently ashore on Grand Manan
		R/V ENDEAVOR	75466	escaped gyre; sighted and reported off Bar Harbor by Steve Brown w/drogued attached
		R/V ENDEAVOR	75467	retained in highly-tidal upper-BoF for 40+ days until it escaped BoF on 6 July and headed down EMCC.
		R/V ENDEAVOR	75468	Recovered by Albert Dickson, a fishermen out of St. John's NB, on 14 June after a few days of infrequent fixes
		R/V ENDEAVOR	75469	hung up on Cook's Aquaculture gear on the western side of Bay of Fundy (Black's Harbour) on 6th June, recovered by Randy Griffin and crew on 13 June, and brought to St. A's lab.
Cape Ann	28 Jun	R/V ENDEAVOR	76201
		R/V ENDEAVOR	76202
		R/V ENDEAVOR	76203
Isle au Haut	29 June	R/V ENDEAVOR	76381
		R/V ENDEAVOR	76382
		R/V ENDEAVOR	76383
		R/V ENDEAVOR	76384
		R/V ENDEAVOR	76385
		R/V ENDEAVOR	76386
Bay of Fundy	2 July	R/V ENDEAVOR	76461	suddenly stopped transmitting on 10 July south and east of Grand Manan
		R/V ENDEAVOR	76462	Recovered on the west side of Bay of Fundy by Beaver Harbor New Brunswick fisherman, Reid Hatt, on 9 July
		R/V ENDEAVOR	76463	Recovered and brought to shore by Joey Green, a Grand Manan fishermen, on 5 July
		R/V ENDEAVOR	76464
		R/V ENDEAVOR	76465
		R/V ENDEAVOR	76466
		R/V ENDEAVOR	76467
		R/V ENDEAVOR	76468	recovered by scallop researcher, Mark Lundy (BIO), on 13 July 2007 since it had lost its drogue
		R/V ENDEAVOR	76469	Sighted and reported by a Shelbourne, NS fishermen, Johnny Jackson on 9 July
Georges bank	4 July	R/V ENDEAVOR	77071	backward flow (wind-driven?) on southern flank
Casco Bay (Bowdoin)	September?	R/V SEAWAY21	79391
Casco Bay (SMCC)	October?	R/V Carol Ann	70301

Analysis thus far:

As of this writing (Early 2005), the Rachel GPS units have logged well over 30 thousand kilometers of ocean. Analysis of these tracks have just begun with preliminary examinations.

Residual Flow: As a first step in the investigation, velocities were calculated and time series plots of low-passed velocities (tidal oscillations filtered out) were generated for each unit (see links to other "speed" plots in table above).
Regional Statistics: Secondly, a analysis of each of the four regions of the coast was conducted providing statistics such as transit times and mean velocities. The results indicate a progressive decrease in both maximum advection speeds and flow variance from east to west along the coast. The mean "transit times" for the four sections of the coast are approximately 10, 12 , 17, and 21 days resulting in a total of two months travel from Cutler, Maine to Georges Bank. Much more analysis is required, however, to test the sensitivity of to defining these "regions" particularly in the southern zones where the flow is much more variable. This same analysis has been done on the May 2004 MERHAB deployment.
Simple Wind-Driven Components: Finally, how much of the flow variance is purely wind-driven. To initiate this investigation, a very simple "Ekman" model was constructed to advect numerical particles (given a prescribed constant climatological flow) and compare with observations. The results of this simple model results will eventually be compared to the more sophisticated, time-varying, 3-d models like QUODDY and FVCOM.
A few examples of simulations to be continued in the near future:

september-like flow
expected trajectories given particular forcings
simple wind-forced Ekman model often sufficient to get most interannual variability

Events:

In both 2003 and 2004, drifters were retained in the Great South Channel region for several days. This may provide a mechanism for concentrating right whales plankton and a support hypothesis for the cruise work in this area in 2005. See animations of this phenomenon for both 2003 and 2004.
This same type of process may occur in the Bay of Fundy as seen in the 2004 animation.
One of the most interesting animated events occurred just north of Gloucester where a drifter entered an estuary and subsequently left.

Comparison with moored observations: Drifters often passed the vicinity of GoMOOS moorings. While a direct comparison of velocity observation is not possible, a cursory look at the differences was conducted nevertheless by extracting periods of time when the drifters were within a prescribed box. The overall mean Lagrangian (~1 meter) velocity in the vicinity of GoMOOS mooring "E" was 12.8 cm/s where the moored current meter (~2 meters) measured a mean 15.8 cm/s Eulerian flow. The differences can be attributed to many variations including the fact that the drifters very near the surface may be slowed compared to the subsurface due to the effects of the summer wind. In other words, the coastal current jet mave have a subsurface maximum. This hypothesis will be tested further in 2005. This same analysis was conducted at mooring "I" where the Lagragian and Eulerian flows were within 1 cm/s of each other.
Cost comparison of manual sightings and automated GPS fixes: In order to access the cost benefits of electronic-less ("heathers") vs those with electronics ("rachels"), the total documented-distances traveled by each design was divided by the expense of the unit. While the "heather" design was 4x less expensive to build, the kms/$ figure was several times less those using GPS tranmitters. So, in the end, given all the hidden cost of outreach needed for heathers, the rachel units were more efficient data gatherers. There was far less "heather" sightings than hoped, 52 in 2004. Nevertheless, some of the electronic-less units did help document the fairly quick travel time from downeast to Cape Cod.


Sooky Sawyer (Gloucester, Ma.)	Ed Hunt and son Ken (Phippsburg, Me)

Stevie Robbins III (Stonington)	Nick Lemieux and Jeremy Cates (Cutler, Me)

Proctor Wells (Sebasco, Me)	Billy Souza and son Joey (Truro, Ma)

Month/Year	Area Covered	Launch Location	ID#s	TypeDrifter (Tracks)	Notes
click underlined items below for "fli" animations (megabytes)	click underlined"gif" animation (more-easily viewed on most browsers but lesser quality frames)			click underlined items below for still plots	click underlined items below for project website
last decade		multiple	multiple	variety	archive
May 2003(12)	Gulf of Maine	Isle au Haut	353811-17	Brightwater w/GPS	see MERHAB project
May 2003		Isle au Haut	35381-10	Heather w/phoned-in fixes	eMOLT test
March 2004		Gloucester	43202	Rachel w/GPS prototype	eMOLT test (MWRA washup)
May 2004 (10)		Isle au Haut	45383:2:453811	Brightwater w/GPS drogued	see MERHAB project
May 2004 (1)	Gulf of Maine	Isle au Haut	45380:2:45312,453813:453819	Rachel w/GPS	see MERHAB project
June 2004		Multiple	46202,46392,46382,46472	Rachel w/GPS	eMOLT for real
July 2004		Multiple	47202,47392,47382,47472	Rachel w/GPS	eMOLT for real
August 2004		Multiple	48202,48392,48382,48472	Rachel w/GPS	eMOLT for real
September 2004		Mulitple	49202,49392,48982,49472	Rachel w/GPS	eMOLT for real
Summer 2004 (10)	Gulf of Maine	Multiple	all lobstermen deployed	Rachel w/GPS	eMOLT 2004 summary
Summer 2005	NE Continental Shlf	Multiple	50000 series	mostly Rachels/GPS	2005 summary
April 2005(1)		Multiple	54291-3	Rachels w/GPS	NOAA whale/zooplankton
May 2005(1)	Gulf of Maine	Multiple	55201-3,291-3,461-9	Rachels&Grahams	WHCOHH & NOAA whale/zooplankton
June 2005(0.8)		Multiple	56101,56201,56202	Rachels&Grahams	WHOI Rapid Response, MWRA/Battelle
July 2005		Matinicus	5739 & 5839 series	Grahams	see Incze Lobster Larvae
Aug 2005		Mt Hope Bay	5810 series	Rachels	Power Plant Outfall
Oct 2005		Casco Bay	5839 series	Rachels	Quahog Bay
May 2006		Mass Bay & GSC	65200 series	Rachels	WHOI response to HABs and NOAA Right Whales

2004 set	updated w/other years
Gloucester
Cape Small, Maine
Isle au Haut, Maine	Isle au Haut, Maine
Cutler, Maine
Truro, Ma

Launch Location	Deployer (Track)	ID# (Speed)	Notes
Cutler, Me	NLemieux & J Cates	46472	looping & lost?
		46474	sighted by Sooky in Mass Bay 28 July!
		46471	washed ashore on Monhegan, reported 6 August stored at "Island Inn"
Isle au Haut	Stevie Robbins III	46382	recovered off NH Coast
		46383	Corey Roberts found it in her truck in Rockland Maine parking lot
		46385	recovered off Plymouth Mass
Cape Small	Ed & Ken Hunt	46392	Georges Bank and lost
Gloucester	Sooky Sawyer	46202	washed ashore & relauched in July
		46201	recovered: washed ashore in Gloucester
		46204	recovered: washed ashore on Baker Island off Salem

Launch Location	Deployer (Track)	ID# (Speed)	Notes
Cutler	NLemieux & J Cates	47472	still going mid-GoM last heard 8/16
		47473	ashore in Gouldsboro & redeployed in 30ftm by Dave Myrick
Isle au Haut	Stevie Robbins III	47382	north of Georges Bank ... no longer transmitting
Cape Small	Ed & Ken Hunt	47392	recovered: after washed up east side of N Harpswell after 5 days
		47391	recovered: washed up Dingley Island Harpswell. Me
Gloucester	Sooky Sawyer	47202	recovered: after wash up on Milk Island
	Sooky Sawyer too	47205	recovered: June's relaunch of 46202 landed in Truro Ma backside
		47201	recovered: washed up in Magnolia, Ma
Cape Sable NS	Ashton Spinney	47362	recovered: held dockside for ransom by "Matthew" in Parker's Cove, NS

Launch Location	Deplyer (track)	ID# (Speed)	Notes
Truro, Ma	Billy Souza	55291
	Billy Souza	55292	w/temperature sensor
	Billy Souza	55293
Cape Ann	Dennis McGillicuddy	55201	WHCOHH
	Dennis McGillicuddy	55202	WHCOHH
	Dennis McGillicuddy	55203	WHCOHH
Isle au Haut	Dennis McGillicuddy	55381	WHCOHH
	Dennis McGillicuddy	55382	WHCOHH
	Dennis McGillicuddy	55383	WHCOHH
	Dennis McGillicuddy	55384	WHCOHH
	Dennis McGillicuddy	55385	WHCOHH
	Dennis McGillicuddy	55386	WHCOHH

Bay of Fundy	Dennis McGillicuddy	55461	Went east of Grand Manan & ashore on White Head Island
	Dennis McGillicuddy	55462	Went west of Grand Manan & died off Machias
	Dennis McGillicuddy	55463	Went ashore on NW coast of Grand Manan
	Dennis McGillicuddy	55464	failed
	Dennis McGillicuddy	55465	mid-gyre & died?
	Dennis McGillicuddy	55466	converged to Digby & died?
	Dennis McGillicuddy	55467	converged to Digby & died?
	Dennis McGillicuddy	55468	converged to Digby & died?
	Dennis McGillicuddy	55469	converged to Digby

South of MV	Bruce Keafer	WHOI Rapid Response	56101	towards WH, around Block Island, and then south
Mass Bay	Matt Fitzpatrick	MWRA/Battelle	56201	outside Stellwagen & Ptown w/ weak signals
	Matt Fitzpatrick	MWRA/Battelle	56202	Cape Cod Bay & recovered by fishermen outside Barnstable Harbor

ID (tracks)	dropsite (time series)	cluster	deployed	recovered	Notes
573922	NE of Monhegan SW	1	7/28	lost	died 7/29
573923	West of Matinicus NE	1	7/28	lost	died 8/1
573931	W of Metinic NW	1	7/28	7/31	reused as 583922
573932	N of Monhegan SE	1	7/28	7/31	reused as 583932
573921	NE of Monhegan SW	2	7/30	7/31	sporadic fixes, reused as 583921
573933	West of Matinicus NE	2	7/30	8/11	died 8/3 & later recovered by Casco Bay fisherman
573924	W of Metinic NW	2	7/30	8/2	reused as 583924
573934	N of Monhegan SE	2	7/30	8/2	reused as 583934
583921	W of Metinic NW	3	8/1	8/3	died 8/2, flooded, recovered by Lew, and brought home
583922	N of Monhegan SE	3	8/1	8/2	was "31" in cluster 1, reused as 583942
583932	West of Matinicus NE	3	8/1	8/2	died 8/2
583942	W of Metinic NW	4	8/2	8/5	brought home
583924	N of Monhegan	4	8/3	8/5	brought home
583934	West of Matinicus NE	4	8/3	8/5	brought home

Launch Location	Date	Deployer (track)	ID# (Speed)	Fate
Backside of Cape Cod	5 May	R/V ALBATROSS	65291	?
		R/V ALBATROSS	65292	Ashore on Nantucket
		R/V ALBATROSS	65293	Ashore on Nantucket
	16 May	R/V ALBATROSS	65294	Georges Bank?
		R/V ALBATROSS	65295	?
Boston Outfall	11 May	R/V TIOGA	65201	Ashore at Cohassett, Ma
		R/V TIOGA	65202	Ashore on Peddocks Island inside Boston Harbor
		R/V TIOGA	65203	Ashore at Brant Rock, Ma
Stellwagen	18 May	R/V TIOGA	65204	?
		R/V TIOGA	65205	intermittent fixes
		R/V TIOGA	65206	?
Isle au Haut	11 June	R/V OCEANUS	66381	?
		R/V OCEANUS	66382	?
		R/V OCEANUS	66383	?
		R/V OCEANUS	66384	?
		R/V OCEANUS	66385	?
		R/V OCEANUS	66386	?
Bay of Fundy	13 June	R/V OCEANUS	66461	?
		R/V OCEANUS	66462	?
		R/V OCEANUS	66463	?
		R/V OCEANUS	66464	?
		R/V OCEANUS	66465	?
		R/V OCEANUS	66466	?
		R/V OCEANUS	66467	?
		R/V OCEANUS	66468	?
		R/V OCEANUS	66469	?
Boston Harbor	27 June	R/V Key Largo	65207 (surface)	?
		R/V Key Largo	65208 (drogued)	?

Launch Location	Deployer (Track)	ID# (Speed)	Notes
Cutler	N Lemieux & J Cates	49472	headed to Georges Bank in early November
		49474	washed up on Harbor Island on 12 Sept (near Swann's Island across from Scragg Island) & later recovered from the Swann's Island dump by Phil Dziezyk exactly one year later (12 Sept 2005) !!!
Isle au Haut	Stevie Robbins III	49382
		49383	washed up on the backside of Cape Cod in late October (Jeff Alberts will pick it up)
		49385	washed up on the backside of Cape Cod in late October (ended up in Truro Elementary classroom!)
Cape Small	Ed & Ken Hunt	49392
		49391	reported by IVR phone 17 Sept at 4304N, 7013W by Paul Pelletier; recovered by Skip Webber off P-town on 7 Oct
		49394	reported by IVR phone 22 Sept at 4240N, 7028W off Gloucester
Gloucester	Sooky Sawyer	49202	Malfunctioned after a few days and washed up on Cohasset Beach after 2 weeks
		49201	recovered: by David Dow " ~200 ft from Fishermen's Statue in Gloucester" Sooky will pick it up
		49203	washed up on Sandy Neck Beach in Sandwich Ma. on 30 September
		49204	recovered: by Joe Parisi "near the landing behind Gloucester High School"

58391	FoCB/Bowdoin
58392	FoCB/Bowdoin