8 OCEANOGRAPHY IN THE UNITED STATES 



whether, in absence of such chmatic catastrophes, it would take 15 or 

 150 or 1,500 years for this cold bottom water to overturn and appear 

 on top to depress surface temperatures sufficiently to cause a de- 

 tectable climatic change. 



Various salts and elements released by the ocean to the atmos- 

 phere serve as important condensation nuclei, which are necessary 

 for cloud formation and ensuing precipitation. The fact that hurri- 

 canes form mainly over the oceans points to an optimum combination 

 of meteorological and oceanic conditions necessary for their genesis. 



Long-period changes in atmospheric circulation and in weather 

 patterns may be sensitive to the exchanges of heat and moisture 

 between the ocean and the atmosphere. For example, an unusual 

 pattern of wind and weather may alter the circulation of a large area 

 of an ocean, bringing warmer temperatures to one part and cooler 

 temperatures to anotlier. This new sea-surface temperature pattern, 

 in turn, influences the overlying air, thus possibly prolonging the 

 unusual atmospheric circulation pattern. Oceans are sluggish and 

 once a pattern is established, it tends to persist, thereby introducing 

 a long-range effect on the overlying atmosphere and on subsequent 

 weather patterns. 



These things may very well have something to do witli determining 

 the general weather patterns over the continents and they may be pri- 

 marily the cause of droughty periods or unusual weather periods so 

 that it is very important for agriculture and for other business and 

 economic purposes to know more about the ultimate causes that con- 

 trol these annual changes in weather and climate. 



There are also strong analogies between circulation patterns in the 

 oceans and in the atmosphere so that progress in understanding one 

 medium helps in the other. For example, recent improved insight 

 into the origin and nature of the Gulf Stream has assisted in under- 

 standing better the low-level jet stream in the Midwest which is 

 involved in formation of severe local storms in that area. 



Since this material was prepared, I had a call from Professor Reihl, 

 of Chicago University, who has been with the Navy in tlie task force 

 that has been making the high altitude balloon soundings down in the 

 tropics and Professor Riehl, speaking along the lines of the paragraph 

 that I have just read, said that at very high altitudes they have found 

 circulation patterns which seem to have considerable significance in a 

 better understanding of the patterns at low levels. 



All this, of course, is tied in with what effects the underlying ocean 

 waters with their temperatures have on the ocean masses, so they 

 behave as if it was one science. 



Mr. Miller. But you are justified in pursuing the hypothesis that 

 there is a similarity between the Midwestern jet stream in the atmos- 

 phere, and thic Gulf Stream in the ocean. 



Mr. Reichelderfer. There are similarities in pattern, yes, sir. 



Mr. Miller. There are similar patterns that justify the liypothesis 

 that this may be worthy of study. If we do get the answers we should 

 be in a much better position to project some of these cycles, the dry 

 cycles, wet cycles, storm cycles? 



Mr. Reichelderfer. Very definitely so. The advancenuMit of 

 knowledge in tlie one field contriljutes to advanciMuent of knowledge 

 in the other. 



