Chapter X 



OCEAN OBSERVATIONS FOR WEATHER AND SEA STATE 



PREDICTION 



Environmental Prediction 



A very substantial part of the Federal effort in marine sciences and 

 technology is devoted to observation and prediction of the ocean 

 environment. Every agency is engaged to some extent, but the Navy 

 and the Environmental Science Services Administration (ESSA) 

 support the greater part of the effort. Many surveys are conducted 

 to meet explicit mission requirements; others contribute to the full 

 spectrum of objectives of the Nation's marine science interests : defense, 

 fishing, shoreline protection, etc. Where surveys are to be conducted, 

 by whom, with what instruments, with what priority, and to what 

 effect could not be evaluated in the short time since the Council was 

 established, but appropriate steps are being considered in each agency 

 and across the Government to improve such analyses. 



In the meantime, however, one area of civilian need, heretofore 

 relatively undersupported, has gained emphasis by the Council — the 

 broadening of an environmental observation and prediction system 

 of marine data and collection procedures for the purpose of describing 

 and predicting both the state of the oceans and conditions in the 

 atmosphere. 



Benefits 



The economic impact of improved environmental prediction is sub- 

 stantial. Industrial, commercial, agricultural, and other land activi- 

 ties directly affected by weather will be better served : building con- 

 struction; aviation and marine transportation; and recreation. Bet- 

 ter ice prediction on the Great Lakes would be of economic benefit. 

 More accurate and longer range warning of tropical storms and hurri- 

 canes would save lives and property, as suggested by data in Table 

 XIV and Figure 16. 



Improved understanding of the causes of drought conditions and 

 long-range weather predictions would permit better planning of 

 water conservation measures for crops and management of municipal 

 water supplies. Similarly, improved prediction of rainfall will assist 

 in improving flood warnings which would allow advance application 

 of necessary control measures. 



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