617 



Foreword 



June 1995 



This report from a iMEDEA Special Task Force is provided in response to a request from the Navy Meteorology 

 and Oceanography Comm.and to examine its oceanographic data holdings and determine thei' potential scientific utility. 

 The conclusions reported here represent the result of a remarkable collaboration between civilian scientists and members 

 of the Navy's oceanographic community. The results of this collaboration have led to the identification of numerous databases 

 which, if made available to the civilian community, would greatly advance the ocean sciences and our knowledge 

 of the ocean environment. 



We clearly recognize that serving the needs of national security through oceanographic support to naval operations 

 remains the pnmary responsibility of the Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command the primary custodian of the 

 data examined in this study. However, because of the resources and time involved, the data collected by the Navy for this purpose 

 are truly unique and could never be duplicated in the civilian sector. Release of these data in an appropriate way would advance 

 the state of ocean science by many years and result in an important public benefit from the Navy's previous investments. 



The relea.se of these data would also facilitate a closer working relationship between civilian and Navy ocean science communities, 

 to the benefit of both. It is my firm belief that such collaboration would .strengthen the Navy's overall capabilities to understand 

 and utilize the oceans in addressing its national security responsibilities. 



It is my hope that the scientific conclusions re|)orted here, when viewed by others in the light of pist-cold-war evolution in our 

 national security needs, will lead to appropriate ways to make these important data publicly available. 



y'^-n-vj^l W( 



Dr. Gordon J. MacDonald 

 Chairman, MEDEA 



