16 



vironmental monitoring and prediction sys- 

 tem which can meet the national need over 

 tlie next decade. Design and development of 

 the system will require improved Federal 

 organizational meclianisms to provide for 

 adequate planning, integration, and manage- 

 ment at the national level. The Commission 

 proposes that the Nation's oceanograpliic 

 monitoring and prediction activities be in- 

 tegrated with the existing National Weather 

 Service to form a comprehensive National 

 Environmental Monitoring and Prediction 

 System (NEMPS). 



To achieve the essential global capabilities, 

 the Commission endorses and encourages full 

 U.S. participation in the World Weather 

 Program of the World Meteorological Or- 

 ganization and the Integrated Global Ocean 

 Station System of the Intergovernmental 

 Oceanograpliic Commission. 



The development of ocean 

 technology, as evidenced by 

 specialised research submersibles 

 like the Ben Franklin, has as its 

 ultimate objective to give man 

 the ability to move freely and to 

 ivorlc productively in any part of the 

 marine environment. 



Military requirements for quick response to 

 fast-changing operational situations dictate 

 the need for specialized military environ- 

 mental programs under the aegis of the De- 

 partment of Defense. However, there is no 

 necessity for maintaining completely inde- 

 pendent military and civil systems; both mili- 

 tary and civil data acquisition must be ex- 

 panded, but the data should be pooled. 

 Independent processing and forecasting serv- 

 ices can be established to meet different civil 

 and military needs. 



Although Ijetter understanding of the 

 planetary environment, improved technology, 

 and organizational changes are required for 

 the future, some relatively inexpensive and 

 simple steps can be taken now. Data acquisi- 

 tion can be improved immediately by expan- 

 sion of the ship-of-opportunity program in 

 which monitoring instruments are placed on 

 cooperating merchantmen and other vessels 

 and by more complete instrumentation of air- 

 craft and existing offshore platforms. Atmos- 

 pheric monitoring equipment on ships can be 

 supplemented by increased use of exj^endable 

 bathythermographs to measure ocean tem- 

 peratures. 



The pressing need for new technology' to 

 acquire oceanic and atmospheric data on a 

 global basis should be met by a National Proj - 

 ect to develop a pilot buoy network as well 

 as the vigorous further development of the 

 Nation's weather and ocean satellite monitor- 

 ing and interrogation systems. 



Exploring the Deep Sea 



Present instruments to observe and measure 

 in the depths are entirely inadequate. Except 

 for occasional samples of the bottom and the 

 living organisms of the abyss, little is known 

 about the deep ocean. A drastic improvement 

 in instrumentation is needed for a variety of 

 purposes, including most importantly instru- 

 mentation for efficient and accurate surveys 



