for knowledge of technology related to the testing, evaluation, and calibra- 

 tion of sensing systems for ocean use, to enhance the quality of such systems 

 by the dissemination of operational results and technical information, in 

 order to serve the national oceanographic community." 



The Instrumentation Center is under the administrative command of the 

 Naval Oceanographic Office, and is guided in its policy by an advisory 

 board with membership from Federal agencies concerned, as well as ob- 

 servers from the National Academies of Sciences and Engineering. The center 

 is assigned to — 



( 1 ) Operate a laboratory for the evaluation of oceanographic 

 instruments; 



(2) Generate a central proposal and specification file and disseminate 

 information on ongoing development eflForts for oceanographic 

 information ; 



(3) Encourage the coordination of national specifications for 

 oceanographic instrument development ; 



(4) Conduct cooperative programs among Government agencies, the 

 academic laboratories, and the industrial community for the purpose of 

 compiling Government-wide requirements on instruments to support 

 the development of standards; 



(5) Establish the techniques and secondary reference standards by 

 which oceanographic instrument performance can be assessed ; 



(6) Perform laboratory and field testing and calibration of ocean- 

 ographic instruments for government, academic, and industrial interests; 



(7) Collect and disseminate instrument performance and deteriora- 

 tion data as a means of acquiring statistically significant samples on 

 which to base design criteria for improved systems; and 



(8) Develop ocean measurement instruments, when these instru- 

 ments cannot be obtained from other sources, and equipment needed 

 in the testing and calibration of oceanographic instruments. 



The National Bureau of Standards in cooperation with the instrumenta- 

 tion center plans to assist by providing fundamental and transfer standards 

 of physical measurement, and the precise determination of physical con- 

 stants and important properties of matter and materials as they relate to 

 the ocean. 



During 1969, the center performed nondestructive tests on 25 instruments 

 of varying types, ranging from depth recorders to salinometers, and from 

 current meters to acoustic releases. As in past years, a high percentage failed 

 to meet manufacturer's specifications. Thirteen fact sheets were issued on 

 equipment tested, to assist users in making choices, and to help manufac- 

 turers improve their products. Subject to availability of funds, the center 

 plans to increase the output of this service during the coming year, and to 

 implement other functions of the center's charter. 



Establishing Future Priorities 



The seemingly simple activities of charting the ocean and predicting its 

 future actions are in fact the most massive and intractable problems which 

 now face marine scientists. At our present rate of progress, mapping the 



127 



