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OCEANOGRAPHY IN THE NEXT DECADE 



States to compete with Europe and Asia. Basic and applied re- 

 search in the marine sciences and engineering is necessary to achieve 

 and maintain a competitive position in a host of fields, including 

 marine biotechnology, aquaculture, hydrocarbon and mineral ex- 

 ploration and production, maritime transportation, fisheries, treatment 

 and disposal of waste, and freshwater extraction. 



• National Security. Unprecedented world political changes 

 are redefining national defense interests and altering research and 

 development priorities. Knowledge of the ocean, especially the 

 acoustic properties of marginal seas and coastal areas, is critical 

 to national defense. Experience gained in 1991 during the war in 

 the Persian Gulf highlights the need for better information re- 

 lated to oceanic and coastal processes and to maritime operations 

 and transportation. 



• Energy. The ocean's energy resources are essential to the 

 national economy and national security. After a decade of rela- 

 tive neglect, energy issues are reemerging. With oil supplies con- 

 tinually threatened by instability in the Middle East and with 

 increasing atmospheric carbon dioxide viewed as a possible trig- 

 ger of global warming, there is a need to look carefully at a full 

 range of energy sources, from oil and gas in our Exclusive Eco- 

 nomic Zone to wave and tidal power and ocean thermal energy 

 conversion. Better knowledge of the ocean and seabed is neces- 

 sary to exploit responsibly the ocean's untapped petroleum and 

 natural gas resources. 



• Coastal Hazards. This nation must improve its prediction 

 and response to coastal hazards, both natural and human induced. 

 Hurricanes Hugo and Andrew, two of the strongest hurricanes of 

 the century, devastated parts of the U.S. East Coast. Their impact 

 reinforced the need for better predictive capabilities and a better 

 understanding of coastal storm surges, flooding, erosion, and winds. 

 The exploration for, and production of, petroleum and the trans- 

 portation of petroleum and chemical products pose risks to the 

 environment when spillage occurs. The movement, effects, and 

 ultimate fates of spilled products must be understood for effective 

 public response. The available information is woefully inadequate, 

 particularly for fragile ecosystems such as coral reefs. 



Policy decisions concerning these and many other marine re- 

 search issues require a comprehensive understanding of the sci- 

 ence and engineering of the ocean. Federal, state, and local poli- 

 cies should be based on the best available knowledge of how ocean 

 systems work — their biology, chemistry, geology, and physics. Research 



