FRONTIERS IN OCEANIC RESEARCH 31 



to 2.45° C. at a depth of approximately 25,000 feet. Below this depth there oc- 

 curs a minor but significant increase to 3.35° C. This is not to be construed as a 

 new observation, but the record obtained by the bathyscaph personnel is the first 

 continuous record of this phenomenon. More detailed observations of this in- 

 version will be conducted in future operations and will be supplemented by 

 water samples. 



OPERATIONAL HISTORY OF THE "TRIESTE" 



Between the completion of construction of the Trieste in 1953 and December 

 1958 the bathyscaph had operated only in the Mediterranean Sea. During that 

 period 48 dives were completed ; 26 of these were in 1957 under the sponsorship 

 of the U.S. Navy Office of Naval Research. After the August 1958 delivery of the 

 vessel to San Diego a nominal dive series of 10 was conducted off San Diego 

 to a maximum depth of 4,200 feet in preparation for Project Nekton and for 

 familiarization for U.S. personnel. In October of 1959 the craft was transported 

 to Guam for Project Nekton operations. A total of 11 dives were made between 

 November 1959 and January 1960, culminating with the 35,800-foot dive. 



Although the bathyscaph has the capability of operating to any depth in the 

 oceans it cannot be safely operated in rough seas and is limited to near shore 

 operations due to a lack of adequate mother-ship facilities. Therefore, the 

 present scope of operation of the craft is seriously curtailed as deep ocean areas 

 are not usually located close to major shore base facilities. The average depths 

 of the oceans are approximately li miles. To reach this depth from San Diego 

 requires, at least, a 120-mile tow. The craft is necessarily constructed to be as 

 light as possible. Therefore, it is structurally weak against surface waves and 

 swell. 



Many important military projects under study involve deepwater investiga- 

 tions. Such studies could be markedly advanced if the capabilities of the bathy- 

 scaph could lie employed. Unfortunately the limitations imposed by ocean sur- 

 face conditions and the cumbersome towing that is involved in moving the craft 

 to the diving location renders the craft limited to near shore operations at 

 present. Remote locations such as Hawaii and Guam are satisfactory insofar 

 as shore based logistic support is concerned. But again the diving operations 

 must be limited to a radius of approximately 200 miles from port before a mother 

 ship is available. 



It has been planned, since the purchase of the Trieste, that the craft would 

 be made available to scientists of the United States. Many of these individuals 

 have special problems that require dives to be made in other areas than 

 San Diego or Guam. Ideally the craft should be transported to the desired 

 location wherever it might be operated. To do this effectively an oceanographic 

 research ship capable of servicing the craft would be very necessary in such an 

 operation and would serve as a mobile base for applied oceanography. 



The National Academy of Sciences — National Research Council "Committee on 

 Oceanography Report No. 7, 1959," envisages the development of a variety of 

 manned and unmanned submersibles and cites the need for such craft in an 

 expanded oceanographic research program. Already the commercially designed 

 15,000-foot Aluminaut (Reynolds Aluminum Co.) is well advanced. Several 

 deep submersibles are being designed by other organizations in the United 

 States. None are in the construction stages. 



THE FUTURE 



Man's knowledge of the oceans is meager indeed when compared with their 

 importance to him. Recognizing that neglect in this area of endeavor might well 

 result in our being placed in a precarious position from the scientific, technologi- 

 cal, and military points of view, it is mandatory that there be an increased 

 American effort in this last geographic frontier. Exploration and exploitation of 

 "inner space" has received a significant impetus with the historic plunge that 

 reached the maximum depth in the sea. Technological development required for 

 the Mohole project will effectively advance man's knowledge of the Earth's 

 structure and may enable him to extract vital minerals and fuels from the bottom 

 of the ocean. 



As our technological civilization increases in complexity, as human populations 

 grow at an ever-increasing rate, and as problems of military defense become 

 increasingly more difficult, it is imperative that the United States acquire a 

 greater knowledge of the oceans for the socioeconomic future of the American 

 people, military security, and the assurance that the United States develop scien- 



