OCEANOGRAPHT." IN THE UNITED STATES 5 



Offices assist in monitoring the merchant ship program and providing 

 weather service and advice to mariners. Facihties at these offices 

 also inckide caHbration of ship meteorological instruments. 



In order to support tlie expanding marine program adequately, 

 it is planned that several more meteorologists and technicians will 

 gradually be added to tliese port offices. They will assist merchant 

 ship officers in meteorological familiarization in port and will carry 

 out an expanded program of instrumental calibration and training. 



Marine forecasts and storm, warnings. — One of the most important 

 responsibilities of the Weather Bureau is issuance of storm warnings 

 and forecasts for broadcast to shipping on high seas and coastal 

 waterways. This service included details as to tlie location and direc- 

 tion of movement of severe storms, the winds, weather, visibility, and 

 sea conditions. Along the sea coasts, forecasts and warnings are 

 provided to small boat operations and to coastal and harbor traffic 

 through the display of signals which warn of approaching severe 

 weather. Warnings include advices on storm tides, tidal flooding, 

 et cetera, for coastal communities. 



At present marine forecasts and warnings are prepared by members 

 of forecasting staffs whose duties include many other responsibilities. 

 The pressure of these duties frequently prevents the weather map 

 analyst and forecaster from focusing his attention on ocean weather 

 developments and preparation of adequate marine forecasts and 

 warnings. Eventually the staffs at marine forecasting offices in 

 Honolulu, San Francisco, and Washington, D.C., should have meteor- 

 ologists who give full attention to ocean meteorology and the services 

 based thereon. 



Another important responsibility of the Weather Bureau is the serv- 

 ice of warnings of dangerous storm tides (storm surges). High storm 

 tides in the past have caused great loss of life and tremendous property 

 damage. During the last 4 years, the Weather Bureau has augmented 

 its quantitative storm tide warnings. In support of this warning 

 service remote recorders of water levels have been installed at sites of 

 Coast and Geodetic Survey tide gages along the Atlantic and gulf 

 coasts. Other gages have been established in a number of localities 

 where installation was practicable. 



Currently available information concerning variations in ocean 

 levels is far from adequate for storm surge forecasting and for warning 

 the public about present and predicted water levels during severe 

 storms. It is our intention to increase the number of remote tide 

 height recorders. Additional remote recording and several additional 

 staff gages are planned for fiscal year 1960. 



Marine coinmunications . — Weather reports are collected foiu' times 

 daily by radio messages from ships underway in the western North 

 Atlantic and eastern North Pacific waters. The messages are handled 

 by commercial stations which require payment of radio tolls by the 

 Weather Bureau. These reports form the basis for weather maps from 

 which are prepared the daily forecasts and warnings to shipping and 

 marine interests including boating operations in coastal w^aters. 

 Marine bulletins giving forecasts, warnings, and reports are broadcast 

 to shipping via Government and commercial radio stations. Com- 

 mercial stations make no charge for these broadcasts. 



In order to provide complete weather bulletins covering warnings, 

 forecasts, and reports in sufficient detail, including 5-day forecasts of 



53203— 60— pt. 2 2 



