It appears that College of the Redwoods’ drifter is slowly dying. NOAA’s drifter guru, Jim Manning, feels that the drifter’s flotation may have been damaged. The drifter is probably partially submerged and is no longer transmitting its location. It has been over a week since its last transmission, about 75 miles offshore from San Luis Obispo.
Then, miraculously, the drifter reported its position WNW of San Diego the day before yesterday (http://www.nefsc.noaa.gov/drifter/drift_redwoods_2010_1.html)! Perhaps a fortuitous wave tipped the GPS unit out of the water for a moment at the precise instance of a position burst. The drifter may still be in the game! Unfortunately it is unclear if, or when, it may transmit its location again. In any event, Mexican waters appear to be next on the itinerary.
So close, and yet, apparently, the EEZ boundary takes an odd turn to the South in that area, so it still has about 115 miles to go. Hope it makes it before its last data burst!