Lagrangian drifter design for the determination of surface currents by remote sensing

In estuaries, the interaction of wind, tidal current, and mixing of fresh and saline water produces a variable depth profile of current, with foam lines and convergence zones between water types. Careful measurement of surface currents via Lagrangian drifters requires a drifter design appropriate to both the depth of current to be measured and the tide and wind conditions of interest. The use of remote sensing to track drifters contributes additional constraints on drifter design. Several designs of biodegradable drifters which emit uranine dye plumes, resolvable in aerial imagery to 1:60,000 scale, were tested for wind drag in field conditions against data from calibrated current meters. A 20 cm-vaned wooden drifter and a window shade drifter set to 1.5 m depth had negligible wind drag in winds to 8 m/sec. Prediction of oil slick trajectories using surface current data and a wind factor should be approached cautiously, as surface current data may be wind-contaminated, while the usual 3.5% wind factor is appropriate only for currents measured at depth.