"The sea never changes and its works, for all the talk of men, are 

 wrapped in mystery." — Joseph Conrad 



Chapter XII 



UNDERSTANDING AND SURVEYING THE 



OCEAN ENVIRONMENT 



The rate at which we increase the harvest of ocean resources, promote 

 safe maritime navigation, and improve the accuracy of forecasts of environ- 

 mental conditions affecting activities on both land and at sea is critically 

 dependent on the growth of our efforts to explore, map, and measure the 

 seas. The identification and assessment of ocean resources and features 

 through systematic exploration will also aid in establishing Federal-State 

 development and regulatory policies and provide basic knowledge for con- 

 sideration of international legal questions related to ocean resources. More 

 accurate, timely, and longer range forecasts of climate and weather condi- 

 tions, storms, waves, ice, tidal waves, tides, coastal surf and currents, storm 

 surges, floods, and ocean temperatures will benefit national defense and 

 expanding commercial and recreational marine activities; reduce the de- 

 struction of life and property in the Coastal Zone and at sea ; enhance indus- 

 try, agriculture, water management, and other land activities affected by 

 weather and nearshore ocean conditions; and contribute to the advance- 

 ment of science. 



Mapping, Charting, and Geodesy 



This section deals with those features of the oceans which vary slowly 

 with time so as to permit preparation of maps for understanding and use 



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