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22 OCEANOGRAPHY IN THE NEXT DECADE 



private universities, mixed v^ith a few large oceanographic cen- 

 ters. U.S. academic oceanographers are internationally recognized 

 leaders who are key to international scientific activity. Although 

 the United States funds perhaps half of the global total of oceano- 

 graphic research in many of its disciplines, international coopera- 

 tion is vital for achievement of the goals of most large global 

 research programs. The academic community could contribute 

 significantly to the study of the ocean and to solutions to the 

 spectrum of ocean-related environmental problems now facing the 

 nation and the world. 



THIS REPORT 



Objectives 



This report has three major objectives. The first is to docu- 

 ment and discuss important trends in the human, physical, and 

 fiscal resources available to oceanographers, especially academic 

 oceanographers, over the last decade. Its second goal is to present 

 the board's best assessment of the scientific opportunities in physical 

 oceanography, marine geochemistry, marine geology and geophys- 

 ics, biological oceanography, and coastal oceanography during the 

 upcoming decade. The third and principal objective is to provide 

 a blueprint for more productive partnerships between academic 

 oceanographers and federal agencies. The board attempts to do 

 this by developing a set of general principles that should provide 

 the basis for building improved partnerships and by discussing 

 critical aspects of the specific partnerships for each federal agency 

 with a significant marine program. 



Contents 



Chapter 1 introduces the importance of the ocean to society 

 and the need for maintaining excellence in marine-related research 

 and education. The growth of U.S. academic oceanography since 

 World War II and the structure of both national and international 

 research are discussed. 



Chapter 2 discusses partnerships in ocean science. A general 

 partnership theme is presented, followed by specific partnership 

 possibilities with agencies of the federal government. This report 

 does not discuss partnerships with states and industry, which may 

 be explored by the board at a later time. 



Chapter 3 details some of the scientific opportunities of the 



