| Navigation
and Ocean Currents
If you have ever dropped something in
the ocean, you have probably seen how the ocean tends to carry
it away from you, and you've watched it bob up and down in waves.
The movement of the object you've seen is caused by the influence
of the ocean's surface currents and waves on the object.
 
Boats on the ocean are able to travel
with, or against, the currents on the ocean's surface by using
oars, sails, or motors. However, if a boat loses its ability to
move across the water, or is overcome by a storm, it will quickly
find itself at the mercy of the wind, waves and currents. When
boaters find themselves in trouble, they rely on the U.S. Coast
Guard's Search and Rescue Unit to respond to their distress calls.
If the Coast Guard knows how the surface currents are moving,
they can locate boats and people more quickly.
But how can ocean scientists (and
the Coast Guard) "see" how the currents on the surface
of the ocean are moving? In this project, you will learn how to
read vector images of real-time CODAR (Costal Ocean Radar) data.
Then you'll use your knowledge to help locate a lost ship off
the New Jersey coast! |
