Trails of the Wandering Albatross: Applying the mathematics of haphazard motion

摘要

The wandering albatross flies extraordinary distances. Riding the wind on long, thin, rigidly outstretched wings, it skims the waves as it glides for hours over the ocean surface. Truly a world traveler, this seabird (Diomedea exulans) regularly circles the globe at southern latitudes, plunging into the sea to scoop up squid and fish along the way. It sometimes follows cruise ships and other vessels to pick up scraps thrown overboard. Its white plumage, white beak, black wing tips, and wingspan of 11 feet or more make it a dramatic sight in the sky.