SPONSORING AGENCIES OF THE NATIONAL OCEANOGRAPHIC DATA CENTER 



For more than one hundred years the United States has been acquiring and compiling oceanographic 

 data. Lt. Matthew Fontaine Maury of the United States Navy collected oceanographic and meteorologi- 

 cal data from the logs of men-of-war and merchant vessels. He assembled thousands of observations of 

 prevailing winds and currents, ice, icebergs, and other data of value to mariners. Maury compiled and 

 ultimately used these data in constructing his Wind and Current Charts, which were distributed to 

 mariners who would, in turn, cooperate in this endeavor by sending him observations made during their 

 voyages. He early proved the value of acquiring oceanographic data, compiling them, and applying 

 them to a useful end product. His Wind and Current Charts shortened sailing time to California by 

 almost 50 days. Maritime powers throughout the world acclaimed his work. Maury had provided the 

 groundwork for a truly cooperative effort among mariners for their mutual benefit. His work was con- 

 tinued at the U. S. Navy Hydrographic Office and led ultimately to the production of the Pilot Charts. 



Many other United States government agencies besides the Navy were also actively engaged in 

 early oceanographic surveying and research. The U. S. Coast and Geodetic Survey carried out and 

 sponsored oceanographic expeditions beginning in 1844 when it started a systematic survey of the Gulf 

 Stream. The Weather Bureau became responsible for collecting meteorological and sea surface tempera- 

 ture data in 1891; the Bureau of Commercial Fisheries collected oceanographic data for years in the 

 pursuit of its biological work and regularly used vessels for surveying; and the Coast Guard, as part of 

 its International Ice Patrol operations, started the survey of northern waters in 1913, shortly after the 

 TITANIC disaster. 



Today, these and other government agencies and private institutions find that their oceanographic 

 requirements have been greatly expanded. A brief description of the oceanographic activities of the 

 agencies sponsoring the NODC and the seal of each is presented in the following pages. 



Beginning in Fiscal Year 1964, the United States Geological 

 Survey and the United States Coast Guard plan to contribute 

 to the support of the National Oceanographic Data Center. 

 The Geological Survey has been active in investigating marine 

 geological, hydrological, and geophysical properties and 

 processes, including those involving mineral deposits. The 

 Coast Guard has been active in oceanographic work since 

 1913, primarily through its International Ice Patrol, and has 

 contributed much to our knowledge of the oceanography of 

 northern waters. The oceanographic effort of the Coast Guard 

 will be considerably increased within the next few years 

 pursuant to an amendment of Title 14 of the United States 

 Code which will permit it to expand Us functions in ocea- 

 nography. 



We wish to welcome the Geological Surrey and Coast Guard 

 to the family of supporters of the NODC. 



