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and more complex challenges in trying to understand the 

 critical processes in the littoral ocean environn\ent. 

 The littoral varies on the scales of meters and 

 minutes. We have all seen the broad expanse of warfare 

 that can occur in the littoral zone: ASW, amphibious 

 operations, special operations, mine warfare, and, of 

 course, safe navigation in shallow waters. So, it is 

 vital that we are able to characterize and predict the 

 environment there and its effect on each warfare 

 operation and system. R&D investment in the shallow 

 and coastal waters of the littoral, in the past 

 relegated to a lower-tier priority, is critical today. 



o We always need data, all kinds of oceanographic 

 data from ocean depths, to temperature, to currents, to 

 information about marine life, to local air-sea 

 interaction phenomena. Navy has a great wealth of 

 information in its classified and unclassified 

 holdings. Using deliberate review methods we are trying 

 to increase civil access to our data. Partnering with 

 our civil counterparts is a two-way street, though. 

 Just as the civil scientist covets access to Navy's 

 vast data holdings, the Navy seeks continual and rapid 



