near-surface density structure, at least in some oceanic 

 regimes. Downward continuation of these patterns, when and if 

 feasible, will require other information (perhaps a mix of 

 climatological and concurrent in_ situ data) and mathematical 

 models. In at least some instances (e.g., warm core rings), 

 the feasibility of downward continuation of such interpolation 

 func-tions to infer subsurface density and flow structure is 

 particu-larly promising and warrants near-term research 

 emphasis. 



Other examples are available such as frontal studies off the Grand Banks 

 (Mueller and La Violette, 1981) and off the Somali coast, but the foregoing 

 ones are sufficient to illustrate prospective applications of CZCS-type 

 data to problems in oceanic regions. In summary, possibilities include use 

 of k distributions in mixed layer models, Lagrangian estimation of synop- 

 tic scale currents from color patch trajectories, and downward continua- 

 tion of combined SST and ocean color patterns pursuant to three-dimen- 

 sional analyses of dynamical oceanic features. Clearly, time sequences of 

 Nimbus-7 CZCS data which correspond to open ocean experiments must be 

 studied to refine the above generalities into specific hypotheses to be 

 tested using the MAREX data sets. As the results of present oceanic 

 experiments (Warm Core Rings, Optical Dynamics Experiment, and other, 

 smaller individual experiments/analyses) become available, other open 

 ocean studies will take advantage of the proposed MAREX sensor package and 

 data capability. 



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