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44 OCEANOGRAPHY IN THE NEXT DECADE 



discusses its approach to the partnership it hopes to forge with 

 DOE, the laboratories should be considered integral participants. 



DOE has sought scientific advice on its marine research through 

 workshops, standing committees of the National Research Coun- 

 cil, and one-time reviews by NRC panels and other groups. The 

 OSB has reviewed the Coastal Ocean Margins Program, has ad- 

 vised the Carbon Dioxide Program on oceanic carbon dioxide re- 

 search, and is presently advising the Office of Health and Envi- 

 ronmental Research on the application of molecular biological 

 techniques to marine research. The Coastal Ocean Margins Pro- 

 gram would benefit from a standing panel of outside experts to 

 help its staff formulate a focused research plan that would build 

 on the agency's strengths in long-term monitoring and regional 

 research. The existing DOE partnerships with academic scien- 

 tists in the Carbon Dioxide Program and in the area of molecular 

 marine biology appear stronger. 



A more general issue for the oceanographic community to consider 

 is where, in light of DOE's missions, new common grounds might 

 lie. There appears to be a genuine interest on DOE's part to 

 enhance or change its role vis-a-vis Earth sciences. The energy 

 implications of marine geology and geophysics research seems to 

 be a natural field for initial discussions. The plans now being 

 developed by DOE for small satellite missions to measure radia- 

 tion might well be enhanced to include small satellite missions 

 for ocean measurements. There are clearly many other areas in 

 which energy research and energy supply options overlap with 

 ocean science interests. Future partnership discussions with DOE 

 might be aimed at assessing priorities and planning possible inter- 

 actions in each particular area. 



U.S. Geological Survey 



The U.S. Geological Survey was established in 1879. Its pri- 

 mary responsibilities are identifying and characterizing the nation's 

 onshore and offshore land, water, energy, and mineral resources,- 

 investigating natural hazards (e.g., earthquakes, volcanoes, and 

 landslides); and conducting the National Mapping Program. To 

 achieve these objectives, USGS prepares maps and digital and car- 

 tographic data; collects and interprets data on energy, mineral, 

 and water resources; performs fundamental and applied research 

 in Earth sciences to understand Earth processes and their varia- 

 tions in time and space; and publishes and disseminates the re- 

 sults of its investigations in the form of maps, data bases, and 



