Cobscook Bay's dramatic tidal range and strong currents have caused difficulties in predicting the impacts of events, such as oil spills or diseases that plague Maine’s salmon farms. MET member Chris Bartlett has been working with the Cobscook Bay Resource Center and high school students in Lubec and Eastport since 1999 to monitor these tidal circulation patterns with drifters. Part of the program has been designed to involve students in collecting meaningful scientific data about the waters surrounding their communities. In 2004, eight trials have been run so far, and each has demonstrated the complexity and dynamic nature of the Cobscook Bay ecosystem.

Up until recently, PVC drifters were used to track the bay’s currents. Beginning in mid-June this year, researchers have deployed Convertible Accurate Surface Tracker (CAST) drifters that contain GPS units. Data from the drifters is exported from ArcView into a format for distribution to researchers at the University of Maine and the Canadian Department of Fisheries and Oceans, and maps for each trial are produced. Researchers plan to develop a detailed analysis to accompany the maps for public presentations.

Contact Chris Bartlett