Surveying the Ocean Environment 



relation of effort. This Committee thus assists NASA and the Council in 

 coordinating spacecraft oceanography activities. 



Among the 1968 results in developing techniques for observations from 

 both spacecraft and aircraft sponsored by NASA, Navy, and ESSA were: 

 — improvements in automated processing of NIMBUS infrared data 

 for mapping sea surface temperature gradients and positions of cur- 

 rent boundaries, meanders, and eddies in the North Atlantic Ocean ; 

 — enhancement of color photography obtained by aircraft, Apollo 501, 

 Apollo 502, and Gemini flights showing the high correlation between 

 nearshore ocean depth contours and film density gradients; 

 — analysis of data obtained during hurricane BEULAH in the Gulf of 

 Mexico confirming previous experimental results linking the pres- 

 ence of sea foam with a marked increase in thermal radiometric 

 response ; 

 — demonstration of infrared radiometry techniques to locate from air- 

 craft strong thermal gradients that are frequently indicative of fish 

 feeding areas; 

 — initiation of work to relate sea surface temperatures obtained from 



radiometric data and those obtained from in situ measurements; 

 — improvements in computer processing of sea ice imagery and develop- 

 ment of infrared techniques for sea ice mapping; and 

 — initial use of ruby lasers on Navy aircraft for imaging sea ice topo- 

 graphic profiles and use of neon-helium lasers to profile ocean surface 

 waves. ^ 

 Figure XI 1-4 shows one of a set of photographs of particular interest to 

 the marine science community obtained from the Apollo 7 flight on Octo- 

 ber 15, 1968. 



Planning Ahead 



In recognition of the growing importance of programs to observe and 

 predict oceanic conditions, the Council endorsed the preliminary draft of 

 a 5-year Federal Plan for Marine Environmental Prediction (MAREP) 



* Council contract, "The Potential of Observation of the Oceans from Spacecraft," 

 evaluates the future potential of satellities for ocean observations. The study report 

 projects the technological state-of-the-art for observation of sea surface temperature, 

 sea ice, and wave height for the next 5 years, analyzes requirements and related costs 

 and describes benefits that could be achieved. The Council report, "United States 

 Activities in Spacecraft Oceanography," prepared by NASA and the Naval Oceano- 

 graphic Office, assisted by other interested agencies, presents information about the 

 potential of satellite observation to assist scientists and engineers in planning for 

 possible participation in future programs. 



159 



