News / Drifters deployed for sea study
A NUMBER of ocean drifters released into the sea off the west coast of Shetland are helping scientists to study currents and track the effects of climate change.
Marine Scotland deployed seven drifters around 50 miles west of Walls in May to examine the behaviour of the sea around the northern isles.
They feature satellite trackers that give hourly location updates.
The drifters were previously used in the six-month long Brahan project in 2013, which studied waters between Orkney and Shetland.
Speaking ahead of a visit to Shetland on Monday, Scottish government environment minister Aileen McLeod said that the drifters can be used to gauge trends and study the effects of climate change.
“Marine Scotland continually uses drifters to study ocean currents in Scottish seas and coastal areas. Over the years these drifters have undertaken extraordinary journeys and we’re beginning to understand more about how currents work,” she said.
“With developments in technology, these drifters now play an important role in discovering the secrets of the seas and helping us to understand our environment and the effects of climate change.”
Dr Bee Berx from Marine Scotland Science added: “The satellite tracked drifters are showing us in great detail the transport pathways of our coastal currents.
“Our next challenge is to interpret these results, to improve our understanding of circulation in the region and to incorporate this new knowledge in our advice.”
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