98 ADVANCEMENT OF MARINE SCIENCES 



This Department has accomplished much in the field of oceanog- 

 raphy in recent years. Highlights of accomplishments in the Coast 

 and Geodetic Survey since issuance of the Academy report on ocean- 

 ography would include a 3-months oceanographic expedition by the 

 ship Explorer; assignment of the ship Pioneer to exclusive deep sea 

 oceanographic investigations; expansion of oceanographic observa- 

 tions by other ships within the framework of their regular opera- 

 tions. Several ships have been outfitted with special oceanographic 

 equipment. 



The level of oceanographic operations in the Coast and Geodetic 

 Survey has progi*essed from an expenditure of $6 million in fiscal 

 year 1960 to $11 milhon in fiscal year 1961. Moreover, $14 ndlhon 

 was originally proposed for fiscal year 1962, to which President 

 Kennedy's program added $10 million for a total of $24 million a 

 fourfold increase over 1960. A considerable portion of these increases 

 has been allocated to ship construction; $2 milhon in 1960, $5 million 

 in 1961, and $17 million in 1962. The additional funds requested 

 for fiscal year 1962 include $9 million for construction of a 3,000-ton 

 ship designed specifically for oceanographic operations on the high 

 seas. It will be the first ship of this size to be built by the ITnited 

 States for that specific pm-pose. Furthermore, under the President's 

 proposed 1962 budget, the Coast and Geodetic Sm'vey, in addition to 

 the large oceanographic ship, will be authorized to replace two smaller 

 obsolete vessels. The Survey will also greatly expand its work in 

 research and development of oceanographic research instrumentation. 

 Funds are also included for additional oceanographers and for extend- 

 ing the working season of the four major ships in the Sm'vey fleet. 

 Extension of the season will be equivalent to the addition of nearly 

 one ship-year of oceanograpliic work using existing vessels. 



The Weather Bureau's major effort in oceanographic research dur- 

 ing tlie past few years has been directed to a better understanding and 

 improved prediction of the coastal flooding produced by hurricanes 

 and other severe storms over the oceans. Pilot studies needed for the 

 sound development of several other air-sea interaction problems have 

 been conducted. Under the President's program, the Weather 

 Bureau would step up its oceanographic research studies on the inter- 

 action between the sea sm*face and atmosphere as it relates to the 

 exchange of heat and momentum. This research would account for 

 about 30 percent of funds allocated to the Bm'cau for research under 

 the President's program. Additional studies planned to develop 

 improved techniques for storm surge forecasting would account for 

 some 30 percent of the increased funding under the President's pro- 

 gram. Accelerated prociu-ement of specialized instrumentation such 

 as infrared radiation thermometers and automatic marine meteoro- 

 logical observing stations to support these studies would take another 

 30 percent of the increased funds of the Bureau. 



This Department beheves that it now has adequate st^atutory au- 

 thority to support its present and proposed oceanographic activities. 

 Furthermore, we believe that these activities are adequately coordi- 

 nated with the oceanographic program_s of other agencies by the 

 Interagency Connnittee on Oceanography (ICO) under the Federal 

 Council of Science and Technology. 



For the foregoing reasons we believe that enactment of legislation 

 in the nature of S. 901 is unnecessar}^ at this time. 



