bottom contours in shallow water or clear water can be observed from 

 space (Fig. 17). Manned orbital spacecraft may offer additional pos- 

 sibilities for onboard photography and data analysis of oceanographic 

 atmospheric phenomena. 



The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is cooperating 

 with the U.S. Navy via the ICO in organizing a "spacecraft ocean- 

 ography project" whose purpose is to assess and develop the feasibility 

 of space research and technology to marine sciences. Similarly, 

 NASA is continuing its cooperative efforts with ESSA in the develop- 

 ment of improved spacecraft for global weather measurements. 



Air-sea interaction studies have been recognized as key elements to 

 meet requirements for environmental prediction. Wlien we have the 

 understanding to make such predictions, we will : 



— have the capacity to make long-range weather forecasts; 



— better understand the causes for fluctuations and motions of tropi- 

 cal storms and hurricanes ; 



— be able to develop improved techniques for prediction of devastat- 

 ing coastal inundations ; 



— predict the ice conditions over coastal and open ocean areas; 



Figure 17. — Vieiv from Oemini IV of the north end of the Gulf of California 

 showing mouth of Colorado River. 



M 



