(3) Production of a sound velocity atlas for the Eastern Pacific, 

 • summarization of mixed layer and thermoclinc dejjths (BT data) for 



various ocean areas, revision of an automated worldwide land-mass 

 data file for more accurate representation of shorelines in graphic dis- 

 plays, production of detailed in'entor\' for a geographically sorted 

 archive of station data ; 



(4) Initiated development of new data bases including those for 

 sea bed photographs, time series data (buoys), satellite photographs, 

 and for modern, continuously recording instruments such as the salin- 

 ity-temperature-depth systems. To facilitate receipt of all types of 

 marine data in computer-compatible fonn (punch card and tape and 

 magnetic tape), completed development of the first phase of a general 

 data system (GDS), and published an instructional guide for use of 

 the system; 



(5) Continued cooperation with the World Data Centers in updating 

 of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission's 1963 catalog, 

 "Fixed Oceanographic Stations of the World" (now called "Ocean 

 Data Stations"). This catalog symbolizes the increased emphasis on 

 marine data inventories and directories, which are under develop- 

 ment or being planned at both national and international levels; 



(6) Continued implementation and expansion of the National 

 Marine Data Inventory (NAMDI) of all marine data and samples 

 generated by U.S. data-gathering activities, for fiscal year 1967- 

 69 operations, and, for selected organizations, from 1960 onward. 

 NAMDI serves not only as a data management tool for U.S. programs 

 but will also act as a prototype inventory for other intergovernmental 

 data exchange programs; and 



(7) Accession of 50,000 bathythermograph observations (from 

 eight nations, including the United States), 49,000 oceanographic sta- 

 tions (36,000 from 31 nations, 13,000 from U.S. activities) , and varying 

 types and amounts of biological (from 25 foreign and 16 U.S sources) 

 and geological and geophysical (30 foreign and 60 U.S. sources) data 

 and information. These data were incorporated into the national data 

 base for use in the preparation of atlases, in survey planning, environ- 

 mental studies, and other programs requiring large quantities of data. 



During the coming year, NODC's plans include — 



( 1 ) Continued development of automated, near-real-time service 

 capability in order to respond to requests for retrieval of data and in- 

 formation including space/time variations of thermocline depth and 

 associated temperature gradients, averages in three dimensions for 

 various physical and chemical marine properties, new computational 

 programs, contouring of descriptive features, and analytical products; 



(2) Further development of on-line interactive displays of data and 

 analyses ("live atlas") in order to provide a new and dynamic experi- 

 mental tool for the researcher as well as a quicker response time to the 

 requester with stringent time requirements ; 



137 



