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74 ENVIRONMENTAL RLSLARCH A\n DEVtLOPMtNT 



Box 4. Monitoring the Ocean Environment* 



Long-term monitoring of the environment is nowhere more important than 

 in the ocean. With its large heat capacity and its mobility, the ocean plays 

 a key role in the climate system. Although our knowledge ot the ocean and 

 its processes is limited because of the vast range of time and space scales 

 involved, we do know that the ocean acts regionally as a buffer and affects 

 the coastal climate. Globally, the ocean acts as a heal source thai forces at- 

 mospheric convection and wind and drives weather patterns. 



With new technical and computer modeling techniques, a number of 

 major International research programs are being carried out to develop an 

 adequate understanding of the ocean and its interaction with the at- 

 mosphere and continental margins. One example of success in this re- 

 search is that scientists are now producing forecasts of the climate anoma- 

 lies due to El Nirio But information on long-term changes is lacking. 

 Consequently the ability of scientists to model and predict changes in the 

 ocean on a broader scale is limited. One proposal to facilitate advances in 

 this area is a Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS). the oceans compo- 

 nent of the internationally planned Global Climate Observing System. With 

 adequate support and institutional infrastructure, it is possible that by the 

 end of this decade investigators will be able to maintain an ocean model that 

 could be used for forecasts of ocean eddies. El Nirio, and dispersion of pol- 

 lutants, and for other practical purposes. 



It is important to begin as soon as possible to put in place the systems 

 that can provide global information: such systems include satellite-based in- 

 struments, automatic fixed and floating buoys that transmit information to 

 shore, acoustic monitoring systems, and the necessary data links. 



Institutional support is the key to the success of GOOS. At present 

 NOAA is the lead agency, with strong contributions from the NSF. which has 

 been the key supporter of global research programs. The DoD, DoE. and 

 USGS also provide support for significant elements of global observing 

 systems. A new U.S. Environmental Monitoring Agency would provide a 

 strong institutional home for a program such as the GOOS. 



' D. James Baker contributed to this box. 



tion and forecasting. It is charged with monitoring and data collection 

 and analysts for the oceans and atmosphere, including weather fore- 

 casting and coastal and ocean research (see Box 4). Two pieces of NOAA 

 scientific research — a time scries of increasing atmospheric carbon dioxide 

 levels over the past three decades, and modeling of greenhouse gases and 

 their role in global warming— have been praised by both scientists and 

 policymakers. 



Because of its technical cxpenise, it has become one of the premier 



