Aiding Science with Drifter Trajectory Data

​While Return to Sea is first and foremost a dignified and meaningful Memorial service, each drifting buoy also creates an unexpected gift: scientific data. Every Drifter yields data on time and position as it moves with the Gulf Stream and surrounding currents. These tracks are curated anonymously and can be shared with researchers and students who seek to use them for constructive, educational or scientific purposes. In this way, every Memorial not only honors a life but also advances our collective understanding of the ocean. Likely Users are indicated below:
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Oceanographers
   Physical Oceanographers rely on actual current measurements to understand how the Gulf Stream and other currents behave within the Western North Atlantic. Drifter tracks provide valuable “ground truth” for observing the strength, direction and variability of surface currents that influence weather, climate, and ecosystems. Our Memorial Drifters give them a rare, sustained and high-resolution view of major ocean processes.

Numerical Modelers
   Computer models of the ocean are powerful tools, but they must be validated against actual field data. Numerical Modelers can compare Return to Sea Drifter tracks with their predictions, then adjust the governing equations to make their simulations more accurate. This feedback loop between real measurements and virtual models is critical for improving forecasts of ocean circulation and climate patterns.

Debris-Tracking Scientists
   Plastic pollution, oil slicks and other drifting materials follow the same currents as our surface Drifters. Scientists studying the fate of floating debris can use these anonymous track records to better predict where marine litter will travel and accumulate. These insights are vital for guiding cleanup strategies and protecting vulnerable coastlines and ecosystems.

Graduate Students
   Graduate students in Oceanography often need real datasets for their thesis or dissertation research. Access to time-stamped Drifter tracks provides a rich resource for studies on current dynamics, transport pathways or climate variability. By using Return to Sea data, students can contribute to scientific progress while working with observations rooted in a deeply human mission.

Young Students and Ocean Enthusiasts
   The ocean sparks curiosity in people of all ages. Just as shark tagging projects have inspired young learners in New England, Return to Sea Drifters can engage students by allowing them to follow real-time ocean journeys online. These projects help build excitement for marine science and show how oceanographic research connects with the human stories carried by each Drifter.