Photo 1: Comparison of last weeks buoy getting stuck up above the cape (left) to this weeks path getting past the cape (right).
Hooray! Wilson made it past the cape! We were very nervous that after two weeks of wandering in the same area that he would not be able to clear the cape but he did and hopefully the worst is over. (refer to above comparison) Once Wilson passed Cape Canaveral he made a large left turn settling right off the coast of Cocoa Beach. We believe that this circular movement is because of the upwelling happening near the coastline. Coastal upwelling is when winds push water off of the shore causing the warm surface water to move into deeper water. Upwelling can also happen in the middle of the ocean and is actually more important than you would think to the ocean’s ecosystem. (1) The deep water that is being exchanged with the warm surface water is not only cold but it is also rich in nutrients. This deep water nutrients act as fertilizer and makes the entire upwelling area more productive. This is not only good for the organisms living in the area but this is very good fisherman as well! (1)
Photo 2: Above is a graphic showing the upwelling that we believe is causing our buoys circular motions. (NOAA.gov)
Now we are hoping that from here Wilson will straighten out a bit and continue his travels south. The buoy is far enough away from the Cocoa Beach shore that we should not be worried about him washing up on the beach like the others. However, he may not be far enough from the coast and the cape of currents (see last weeks post!) area to be able to avoid further confusion. If everything does go well he should continue to be carried South by the nearshore current until he hits Miami, where he would be driven North where the Florida Current nears the shore. The Florida Current is one of the large and strong ocean currents that starts off the coast near the Florida Keys and continues North along the eastern coast of Florida until it eventually turn into the Gulf Stream.(1) The Florida Current comes closest to the coast around the Ft. Lauderdale area where we are hoping Wilson will get picked up from here and continue his adventures! You can study the photo below to get the general idea of the North Atlantic Ocean currents and the journey that Wilson may soon be on.
Photo 3: Photo of the North Atlantic Ocean Currents, notice the Florida Current the first major current Wilson might travel! (Brittanica.com)
Fun Fact! In 1962, 75,000 people came to Cocoa Beach to see the first America astronaut, John Glen, take off in the Friendship 7 spacecraft to orbit the Earth.
References:
1) NOAA.gov
2) Brittanica.com
3) NASA