Drifter data provide direct information on the transport of ocean currents and can be used as proxy to indicate the fate of pollutants in the ocean.
Drifter data are used in TOSCA with 2 goals:

a) to test and to integrate information from other data and models;

b) to provide direct  information on dispersion processes
Drifter data have been collected during dedicated experiments in TOSCA, together with hydrological and currentmeter data.

CNR-ISMAR in collaboration ith University of Toulon has performed two cruises using the CNR R/V Urania in the area of the Ligurian Current, collecting drifter, hydrology and current data. ISMAR has also collaborated with University Parthenope and OGS during a cruise in the Naples Gulf

Example of drifter tajectories in the Ligurian Sea during the TOSCA experiment