VII. Summary and Analysis of U.S. Peograms in Oceanic 



Research 



Statements by a number of national leaders have been summarized 

 showing tlie vital relationship of oceanic research to national security. 

 Specifics have been added, b}^ way of example, indicating possible 

 directions that such progi"ams of research might take in development 

 of basic Iniowledge about the oceans, and in ultimate application for 

 both military and peaceful purposes. Existing programs have been 

 inventoried in terms of organizations, manpower, facilities, funding 

 and government sponsorship. 



The question thus arises as to whether the existing program matches 

 the needs. To assist the reader in arriving at conclusions in this 

 regard, the previously cited rationale for research, and statistics con- 

 cerning the present U.S. posture have been distilled and summarized. 



A. THE SCIENTIFIC PROGRAM 



1. Detailed knowledge and understanding of the oceans and of 

 their contents appears almost completely lacking, particularly in 

 comparison to continental areas of the planet Earth. Because the 

 seas are largely unexplored, there is a greater statistical likelihood of 

 a "scientifK" breakthrough"; scientists. Government officials and in- 

 formed opinion suggest that research in this field thus offers unusually 

 rich promise to sponsors and investigators alike in terms of potential 

 scientific and geographic discoveries and in their application. 



2. Thus research in the oceans, apart from being motivated by 

 human curiosity and the search for learning, has the strong possibility 

 of du'ectly and significantly affecting political, economic, and military 

 affairs. A major element of our national security policy of deterrence 

 already depends on mobility and concealment within the sea of missile- 

 launching Polaris submarines. Survival also clearly depends on ade- 

 quate surveillance of the oceans to minimize a surprise attack from 

 off our shores. In terms of peaceful application keyed to a balanced 

 program of national security, the oceans may heavily supplement 

 human nourishment in an era of burgeoning population, may provide 

 new mineral resources in a day of continental depletion, and may pro- 

 vide the key to understanding weather and climate as a logical step to 

 its control. Study of the seas may reveal the origin of our planet, the 

 origin of life on it, and the dynamic processes of change. 



3. Although oceanography as the science of the seas is descriptive of 

 one part of the world around us, it is an inter- or multi-disciplinary 

 science, involving apphcation of fundamentals from physics, chem- 

 istry, geology, and biology. 



4. The ingredients of an oceanographic program can be measured 

 quantitatively in terms of manpower and its organization, facilities, 

 and funds. Far more difficult is its appraisal in qualitative terms 

 which reflect such intangibles as scientific accomplishment and utiliza- 

 tion of manpower. 



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