Essay On Floating Objects

The article tries to demonstrate how the floating objects can be used as a temporary drift meter to give information about the movement of surface currents. The author argues that this can be achieved if the place where the object entered the ocean and was retrieved is known respectively. The author takes a unique perspective when analyzing how the speed of the currents can be determined. Instead of focusing on the factors that can interfere with floating object, the author focuses on the place of entry and retrieval as well as the time of release of the object to determine the movement and the speed of the currents.
Although the article indicates that time of release and retrieval can be used to determine the speed and movement of currents, in my opinion I think they cannot determine the speed and movement of the currents. I believe there are other objects in the ocean that can hinder a smooth flow of the floating object. This indicates the time and place of retrieval will change giving wrong rationale. The example in the article demonstrates vividly that there are other factors that affect the constant flow of the objects. The floating objects were discovered in different places and time which indicate this could not have given correct speed and movement of the current.
What stood out most interesting about this article was the use of Nike athletic shoes and colorful floating bathtub toys to offer clear understanding about the movement of currents in the pacific ocean. In my opinion this did not meet its mission because the shoes floated in the ocean and were discovered in different places. Although the floating objects can be used to determine the surface currents, I did not like how the author assumed constant flow of objects without any interference.