Keep your eyes peeled for floater cards

            The next time you’re walking along the waters edge keep your eyes open for little yellow cards floating in the water.

It may be a drift card released by scientists working with the Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative.

The Initiative is a 10-year, $500 million dollar independent research program established by an agreement between BP and the Gulf of Mexico Alliance to study the effects of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.

Since early April, scientists on research cruises have been dropping the wooden cards at various locations in the Gulf and keep a detailed record of where they are found. 

Each card has a unique number and instructions for the public to call or email the card number and describe where they found it.

Dr. Piers Chapman at Texas A & M University said the drift cards have two main purposes.

One is to get a better idea of water movement near shore along the Gulf of Mexico.

The information they gather will help improve prediction models for how oil and gas moves when another oil spill happens.

The other purpose is to keep the public involved in some of the ongoing research activities in the aftermath of the 2010 BP oil spill in the Gulf.

To encourage public participation, people who report the location of cards they find will be eligible for a $25 gift card as thanks for their efforts.

Residents along the Gulf Coast states will soon see posters describing the Drifter Card program in area bait shops, marinas, local fish and wildlife offices, and other venues.

You can also see what the cards look like by checking out the Oyster Radio facebook page or the May edition of the Oyster magazine. 

http://www.oysterradio.com e-mail manager@oysterradio.com with comments