Future scientific plans in the Deep Sea Drilling Project of the ocean sedi- 

 ment coring program are based on the geophysical patterns developed as a 

 result of nearly 1 million miles of traverses conducted over the past two 

 decades. Global patterns of gravity, magnetic and thennal anomalies, along 

 with information about the composition, thickness and stratification of the 

 sedimentary cover of the deep-sea and continental margins allow for the 

 selection of drilling sites to verify and expand knowledge about specific 

 geophysical characteristics. Hypotheses about major tectonic processes, 

 long in scientific controversy, can be tested by a well-planned sampling 

 program for the deep-sea and continental margins. 



Based on the analysis of these patterns and the need to validate a number 

 of geophysical hypotheses, drilling is scheduled for continental margins of 

 the major ocean basins, the Gulf of Mexico and selected sites of tectonic 

 and sedimentary significance. Transition zones between the continents and 

 the deep ocean basins will also be sampled to develop a better understanding 

 of their history and relevance to global tectonics. Reconnaissance of the 

 Indian Ocean and Mediterranean Sea, and additional drilling in the 

 Atlantic and Pacific Oceans will be undertaken in the near future. The 

 tracks and drilling sites for the completed and proposed deep sea drilling 

 project are illustrated in figure XI-1. 



The drilling system of the Glomar Challenger will be modified to extend 

 its capabilities. Drilling innovations such as reentry of the borehole with 

 drill pipe; a down-hole drilling motor; new instrumentation to monitor 

 down-hole operations; drill or core bits with replaceable cutting elements; 

 and other system improvements will be considered and possibly tested as the 

 program progresses. The ocean sediment coring program is producing, 

 from both a technical and scientific standpoint, results of benefit to the 

 scientific and industrial communities and providing valuable information 

 on deep-sea drilling technology for future industrial use. 



Determining the Energy of the Environment 



The coupling between the atmosphere and ocean systems has been of 

 interest to oceanographers and marine meteorologists, especially as it affects 

 basic atmospheric circulation and the exchange of energy, water, gases, and 

 particulates at the sea-air interface. In carrying out its responsibility as 

 lead agency for sea-air interaction studies, ESSA coordinated the scientific 

 program and logistical support for an experiment to study the exchange of 

 energy between the ocean and atmosphere and the vertical and horizontal 

 spreading of these energies within each fluid. Seven Federal agencies, 22 

 universities and independent laboratories, and six industrial organizations 

 participated in the experiment. In all, an expedition consisting of 12 ships 

 and 28 aircraft, and 1500 scientists and technicians performed over 100 

 experiments within the 90,000 square mile field area. Termed the Barbados 

 Oceanographic and Meteorological Experiment (BOMEX) , field operations 



151 



