Marine Science Affairs 



moored in deep water, a shore based communication capability, a vessel 

 modified to service the buoys, and the necessary shore support by FY 1974. 

 The development and deployment of this limited pilot system should provide 

 additional experience on which to base decisions on the extent and timing of 

 implementation of follow-on operational systems. Specifically, $9.8 million 

 requested for FY 1970 is intended for: 



— state-of-the-art investigations of buoy technology ($4.5 million) ; 



— concept formulation for a prototype deep ocean/coastal system ($4 

 million) ; 



— exploratory development of sensors and alternative approaches to 

 high risk components ($0.8 million) ; and 



— systems management and support ($0.5 million) . 

 Additional related activities include commencement of the first experi- 

 ment using "monster" and other buoys - to study the mechanisms of forma- 

 tion and progression of large persistent thermal anomalies which develop 

 in the surface waters of the North Pacific and progress across the ocean. 

 Also, the test of the Coast Survey Marine Observation System (COSMOS) 

 was completed successfully by recovering the platform in excellent condition 

 after its second year on station in 5,000 feet of water 100 miles off Los 

 Angeles.^ 



Advancing Spacecraft Oceanography 



Last year the Council requested NASA to assume lead agency responsi- 

 bility for coordination of sensor technology, techniques for space oceanog- 

 raphy, and testing of new developments. Recently NASA established the 

 Earth Resources Survey Program Review Committee (ERSPRC) to pro- 

 vide a formal inter- agency mechanism for (a) reviewing and analyzing the 

 total earth resources program including spacecraft oceanography, (b) pro- 

 viding advice and recommendations to NASA on both the current and 

 future responsiveness of the NASA research and development program to 

 user agency requirements, and (c) providing advice and recommendations 

 to user agencies to achieve maximum integration of requirements and cor 



'The initial experiment requires mooring two "monster" buoys (12.2 meter 

 diameter) and eight smaller, catamaran-type "bumblebee" buoys (4.9 by 2.j meters) 

 in the central North Pacific for several years. 



' The COSMOS platform on which various instrument capsules can be mounted 

 is normally moored about 100 feet below the sea surface by three steel cables anchored 

 to the bottom at 45°. The catenary is reduced by attaching glass spheres along the 

 cable at close intervals, thereby substantially lessening the vertical mobility of the 

 positively buoyant platform. 



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