72 FRONTIERS IN OCEANIC RESEARCH 



area of the world will fall within their capabilities. These are tech- 

 nically feasible now. 



Bathyscaphs should be improved as to payload and maneuver- 

 ability to explore the very deep parts of the ocean. Three or four of 

 these are desirable within the next several years. A moderate amount 

 of practical research and new design will be required for the best 

 results. 



A number of fixed habitable underwater laboratories should be 

 emplaced in different parts of the world, and at different depths, to 

 enable scientists to conduct underwater experiments in deep water. I 

 am not familiar with all of the technical problems involved, but some 

 undoubtedly will prove difficult. 



Substantially increased shore facilities are essential, especially for 

 systematic, rapid data handling, reduction, and publication. Here 

 a single large facility may be better than several small units. 



The more conventional devices such as surface research ships, in- 

 strumented buoys, survey and utility aircraft and various instruments 

 must be multiplied and made easily available to the research commu- 

 nity. And perhaps most important of all, funds will be needed to 

 support the continued operation of these devices after they are once 

 provided. 



In my opinion, the estimate of the Committee on Oceanography — 

 and here I am speaking purely as an individual — that the research 

 effort can double in 10 years and reach a level about one-tenth of our 

 present space effort, is very conservative. 



That estimate is based on the rate of training of new oceanogra- 

 phers, yet I am reminded of the space program which in a few short 

 years has exploded from essentially no effort into a major profession. 



This has been done by drawing on industry for scientists and engi- 

 neers, and can be done again in developing the oceans. It is only 

 necessary to provide the same kind of funding and priorities that 

 have been given to the space program. 



A discussion on engineering and research devices would not be 

 complete without mention of the Mohole. This is a project, under 

 the National Academy of Sciences and National Research Council, to 

 drill all the way through the Earth's crust, for geological and geo- 

 physical study. The attempt will take place in the ocean since the 

 crust is thinner there than on land. 



There is roughly 15,000 feet of rock to drill through underneath 

 roughly 15,000 feet of water. Extensions of present deepwater drill- 

 ing techniques appear promising, and we expect to see the initial test 

 drilling started within the next several years. 



In addition to some great advances in scientific knowledge, the 

 project will result in substantial improvements in oil drilling tech- 

 nology. 



My motives in favoring such research devices are twofold. First, I 

 agree witli the need for an accelerated basic research program as a 

 foundation for future progress in the sea. In addition, however, the 

 engineer, as well as the scientist, must become familiar with the new 

 environment and thereby learn how to exploit it and behave in it. lie 

 must encounter turbidity flows, stress corrosion, thermal layers, 

 and a hundred other problems in the full scale environment before 

 he can design a workmanlike production machine or process. 



