20 



an immediate improvement in storm track predictions. This will be 

 the major improvement from the information that comes from the 

 aircraft for storm track predictions, which is the major item for 

 hurricanes. 



Now, by adding additional information to do what we call recon- 

 naissance, we can fly into the eye of the hurricane and we can get 

 additional information which helps us understand hurricanes. 



If we also have information to let us look at high-altitude atmos- 

 pheric properties, such as upper troposphere chemistry and phys- 

 ics, this will allow us to learn more about hurricanes. It will allow 

 us to learn more about the development and the achievement of 

 hurricanes — how they actually develop and become full storms — 

 which is another important aspect of the prediction of hurricanes. 

 But the immediate aspect of hurricane forecast is to have the infor- 

 mation that is necessary for us to predict the track of a fully devel- 

 oped hurricane, and that capacity is built into the initial capacity 

 of the aircraft as it is currently being proposed. 



Senator Kerry. Well, I want to understand what you mean when 

 you say it is additionally being built in. The original report of the 

 Senate last year suggested that the funding was for reconnais- 

 sance, but now you are saying that it is only for surveillance. What 

 is the difference? What in the $43 million for the aircraft, or for 

 the requirements, has created a difference between the original ex- 

 pectation of reconnaissance for $43 million, and now it is surveil- 

 lance for $43 million. 



Dr. Baker. The way we have used these words — and I think it 

 has been confusing to me also. We have tried to use this term "re- 

 connaissance" as a general term, which really includes two parts. 

 One, is that the highest priority part of the reconnaissance is sur- 

 veillance; the second is reconnaissance. 



Senator Kerry. So, the $43 million would cover both missions. 



Dr. Baker. The $43 million, as I understand it, does not include 

 the additional instrumentation which we would say was necessary 

 for a full reconnaissance. However, it does provide the information 

 we need for the first part of reconnaissance, which is what we call 

 surveillance, or the information that we need for storm track pre- 

 dictions. That is the drop wind sonde mission around the periphery 

 of the storm. That is the first, initial part of reconnaissance which 

 is crucial. 



Senator Kerry. Now, with respect to the fishery user fees, when 

 your staff kindly came up and met with us prior to this hearing 

 and the budget being put together, we discussed this. 



I think they got an instantaneous reaction from me, and I know 

 a similar one from the chairman of the full committee. Senator Hol- 

 lings, and others, that there is obviously a certain immediate down 

 side. 



There is a certain ability for the public to feel pretty cvnical 

 about emergency efforts to deal with the problems of our fisheries 

 on the one hand and a welcome and well-needed, and I must say 

 remarkable, effective response by your Department and others to 

 deal with that problem, on the other hand by providing $30 million 

 in emergency assistance. Only a few months later, though, the De- 

 partment decides that these same people are going to have to ante 

 up and pay for the use of the fisheries and in effect sort of dumps 



