ADVANCEMENT OF MARINE SCIENCES 21' 



Findings were reported at the annual meeting of the Conference' 

 held last November. The meeting was attended by a staff member 

 of the Senate Commerce Committee. 



The findings read in part: 



Time-series data from single locations in the ocean repre- 

 sent one of the most valuable research tools for increasing 

 our understanding of the marine environment. 



Time-series observations in the fields of geophysical and 

 biological sciences often form the foundation for later funda- 

 mental research papers which never could have been prepared 

 had not the observations been taken with only "the good of 

 the science" in mind at the time. 



But for more immediate application, time-series data in 

 the ocean are invaluable in the interpretation of synoptic 

 surveys in the surrounding area. They serve to indicate 

 whether the synoptic survey was made at a typical or an 

 atypical time or during the transition from one time to 

 another. 



Finally, time-series data establish the character of tem- 

 poral fluctuations, the average conditions and magnitude 

 and changes in variability". In this waj" they advance our 

 ability to forecast the variations in oceanographic conditions 

 which can be applied in numerous ways, e.g., (a) the predic- 

 tion and availability of commercial fish species, and (6) the 

 prediction of thermal structure and sound conditions in the 

 oceans for militar}^ purposes. 



The only significant contribution of this nature in the Pacific, the 

 Conference noted, had been made by Canada at its weather station 

 "Papa" in the Gulf of Alaska, and which Canada has conducted for 

 the past 4 years. 



Data obtained at this weather station, the report stated, has 

 "benefited research at numerous west coast laboratories." 



But [it added] the United States, which has the most vital 

 interest in the Northeast Pacific of any country in the world, 

 has been guilty of gross neglect in its failure to institute pro- 

 grams for obtaining time-series oceanographic data in this 

 area. 



The U.S. Coast Guard furnishes the ships and nonscientific person- 

 nel at this Nation's ocean weather stations, while the Weather Bureau 

 supplies highly competent meteorologists. 



Atmospheric and surface data has been sought, research below the 

 surface neglected, not because the Coast Guard willed it so, but 

 because it lacked statutory authority for deep sea research. 



The United States maintains six weather stations. The Coast 

 Guard supplies ships, officers, and crew. The Weather Bureau assigns 

 meteorologists and teclmicians to these vessels. 



Two of the weather stations are in the Pacific, one midway between 

 the California coast and Hawaii, the other midway between Hawaii 

 and Japan. Canada which, as previously stated, combines meteorol- 

 ogy and oceanography, maintains the station in northern Pacific 

 waters. 



