Drift bottles have long been used as an inexpensive (and fun) way to study ocean surface currents. Notes in the drift bottle message explain how to make contact with the Institute of Ocean Sciences, Canada and are placed inside empty glass bottles that are then sealed using cork and wax. The drift bottles are completely biodegradable.

Project participants throw these bottles over the side of ocean-going ships and note the 'drop' location of each bottle. When a bottle is found, the location and date, as well as photos and the finders contact information, are added to the database that has over 140 reports (4% recovery) to date.

During the International Polar Year (2007/2008), bottles will be dropped along the 15,000 kilometre track from Halifax to Victoria. This spans Canada’s three oceans and is part of the C3O project headed by Dr. Eddy Carmack.

For more information, please contact {encode=" This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it " title="Helen Drost"}.