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FUTURE DIRECTIONS IN OCEAN SCIENCES 61 



Provision for continuing such observation beyond the end of WOCE 

 is essential. 



Methods 



To achieve their scientific objectives, physical oceanographers 

 must use both proven methods and nev^ technologies to make 

 more complete ocean observations. 



Volunteer Observing Ships The maritime industry is a resource 

 for ocean research and monitoring that can no longer be vievv^ed as 

 simply an adjunct to the academic research fleet. On the con- 

 trary, its integration into a global ocean observing system would 

 provide far greater and more frequent access to the ocean than 

 will ever be possible with research vessels alone. 



Volunteer observing ships (VOS) offer opportunities to study 

 and monitor the ocean with a coverage and frequency that are 

 unthinkable by any other means With the advent of new and 

 more sophisticated remote sensing techniques, such as ocean color 

 scanners, altimeters, and scatteronieters, it is plausible that the 

 demand for direct observations will increase for several reasons. 

 First, the need for calibration measurements will grow. Second, 

 the ocean color scanner vvill observe numerous signals that re- 

 quire in situ samples for identification, interpretation, and analy- 

 sis. Third; as coverage of the ocean surface improves, a concomi- 

 tant need for improved subsurface coverage is inevitable. 



Without doubt, a major impediment to the use of VOS is the 

 lack of automated instrumentation for nonscientists op moving 

 commercial ships. Most instruments are designed for trained per- 

 sonnel on research vessels equipped with laboratories. A new 

 approach to the VOS concept is needed. It will require discus- 

 sions and planning with the maritime industry internationally to 

 develop new modes of cooperation. The community must think 

 of VOS as a potential platform, and ship operators must be per- 

 suaded that ocepnographic work is to their benefit. At the same 

 time, the development of instrumentation optimized for use on 

 VOS must be encouraged, including the following: 



• Modern sensor packages are needed that can be dropped and 

 retrieved repeatedly along a ship's route to measure salinity, oxy 

 gen, and fluorescence {primarily from phytoptankton). Data ob- 

 tained by the sensors could be transferred to a small on-board 

 computer for analysis and transmission to data centers. 



• Disposable free-falling sensor packages should be developed 



