Flotsametrics (broadcast Friday, April 10th, 2009)

Lumber washed up on a beach. Photo by Flickr user adactio.

What can floating debris teach researchers about the world's oceans? In May of 1990, a Pacific storm knocked five containers filled with thousands of sneakers off a cargo vessel. Almost a year later, the shoes began washing up along the West coast of North America -- and observations of the locations of those shoes helped flesh out detailed maps of ocean currents. We'll talk with the author of a new book about the data to be learned from observing shoes, rubber ducks, and other wayward flotsam. Teachers, find more information about using Science Friday as a classroom resource in the Kids' Connection.