Marine Science Affairs 



3. Exploration of Ocean Processes 



— study of scales of motion in the sea, temperature variations, and the 



dynamics of ocean current systems; 

 — investigations of various surface boundary processes, such as the 



growth and propagation of ocean waves; and 

 — investigations of evolutionary processes of ocean basins. 



4. Assistance to the Developing Nations 



— mapping of selected areas of the Continental Shelf of developing 



nations; and 

 — surveys of the coastal fishery resources of the developing nations. 

 In preparing the concept of a Decade, the United States has not attempted 

 to prejudge the scope, specific international projects, nor the international 

 planning and coordinating arrangements. Interested nations and interna- 

 tional organizations should work out these details collaboratively. The 

 United States therefore has initiated discussions with nations throughout 

 the world on the concept of the Decade. 



Enhancing International Collaborative Programs 



International scientific cooperation has been widespread in oceanography 

 for many years. It is against this background of scientific interest and experi- 

 ence in collaborative projects that a long-term continuing program of ex- 

 ploration, worldwide in character, would be built. Current programs spon- 

 sored by international organizations, together with existing and planned 

 bilateral and multilateral cooperative exploration endeavors, would provide 

 an excellent starting point for the Decade. 



Figure IX-1 shows the relative density of one type of ocean exploration 

 activity conducted throughout the world to date. 



During the late 1950's, the International Geophysical Year was a major 

 stimulus in expanding earlier efforts, and since that time a number of 

 collaborative ocean exploration projects have been developed and suc- 

 cessfully carried out, e.g., the International Indian Ocean Expedition, 

 the International Cooperative Investigation of the Tropical Atlantic, and 

 the Cooperative Study of the Kuroshio. Their success has encouraged present 

 consideration by the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of new 

 cooperative programs in the Caribbean and Mediterranean Seas and in the 

 North Atlantic and Southern Ocean which can provide initial building 

 blocks for the Decade. 



Surveys and assessments of fishery stocks in Asia, Africa, and Latin 

 America, supported by the Food and Agriculture Organization, are having 

 a significant impact on economic development in those areas. A number of 



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