50 OCEANOGRAPHY IN THE UNITED STATES 



supply and bring to light promising areas of other natural resources. 



The role of the Coast and Geodetic Survey in the study of currents 

 in the oceans and estuaries has traditionally been in the direction of 

 navigational aid to augment the nautical chart. However, as this 

 country turns to the oceans more and more as a source of food and 

 minerals and as a dumping ground for radioactive wastes, a knowl- 

 edge of circulation below the surface becomes mandatoiy. Similar 

 studies in our various harbor estuaries are proposed or already under- 

 way because of the increased pollution associated with our mdustrial 

 and population growths. The Coast and (xeodetic Survey has done 

 far more than any other agency in this field, but our data are totally 

 inadequate for today's requirements and even more so in the light of 

 the presently known future requirements. Last summer experimental 

 offshore current suiweys were made on Georges Shoal in anticipation 

 of our role in patrolling dumping areas of radioactive wastes. 



The continuing development of atomic energy will progressively 

 produce greater amounts of radioisotopes, and with them increased 

 amounts of radioactive waste material. Rapidly developing private 

 use of radioactive materials demands adequate control of radioactive 

 waste discharge from nuclear reactors, uranium mills, research lab- 

 oratories, and the like. Since the oceans cover 72 percent of the earth 

 and ultimately receive the drainage of the land, they are the ultimate 

 reservoir where most of radioactive waste will finally accumulate. 

 The only place on earth where the disposal of the wastes can be 

 considered practical is in the oceans. However, the dispersal of 

 radioisotopes in the ocean must proceed very carefully with additional 

 investigations in areas where knowledge is now limited. 



Great potential danger is present in the indiscriminate intro- 

 duction of wastes into coastal waters, especially in the upper layers. 

 This is the habitat of most of the important commercial fish. The 

 major fishery resources of the world are concentrated near the coasts 

 and could be contaminated. Coast waters enter harbors and bays 

 and could carry waste material with them. 



This Bureau has recently initiated a survey project in the Ne"W 

 York Harbor for the Atomic Energy Commission and the Maritime 

 Administration. The program in New York is being carried out 

 by the survey ship Manner^ the first survey ship to be assigned full 

 time to current surveys. This project will provide data on the 

 variations in the direction and velocity of surface and subsurface 

 currents and also the temperature and salinity of the water in the 

 harbor area. Data obtained during the survey are being used by 

 the AEC and the Maritime Administration in joint activities pur- 

 suant to the development of nuclear power for merchant ships. 



Direct measurements of deep currents are extremely meager. To 

 date much of these data are obtained by indirect measurements based 

 on precise measurements of temperature, salinity, and density. Last 

 year, actual direct observations were made with current meters by the 

 Bureau's oceanographers at the edge of the Continuental Shelf off 

 the Massachusetts coast. This year in Alaskan waters further in- 

 vestigation will be made by following a number of underwater 

 drogues set at predetermined depths to determine by direct measure- 

 ments the velocity and direction of these deep ocean currents. 



