no 



we. may explore every aspect of the global en- 

 vironment and monitor its characteristics and 

 motions in real time. 



The Commission's recommendation to ob- 

 serve and describe the global environment 

 adequately will require a balanced effort in 

 research, exploration, technology, and by the 

 latter part of the coming decade, the devel- 

 opment of a global environmental monitor- 

 ing and prediction system. New institutional 

 arrangements and improved international co- 

 operative arrangements will be required. 

 Near-tenn improvements based on rapid ex- 

 pansion of particular programs using avail- 

 able technology also are possible and are 

 recommended. 



The need for improved environmental 

 knowledge and forecasts reaches deep into 



The temperature, salinity, and 

 tiological patterns of the oceans 

 must be understood if modern sonar, 

 like that housed in the rubber bow 

 dome of the destroyer leader 

 Willis A. Lee, is to be effective in 

 antisubmarine warfare operations. 



the fiber of our national life. National se- 

 curity requires that those who deploy and 

 operate naval vessels have detailed data de- 

 scribing the state of the oceans' surface, the 

 currents at different depths, and the topog- 

 raphy of the ocean floor. Use of sonar re- 

 quires detailed understanding of the temper- 

 ature, salinity, and biological patterns in the 

 oceans and forecasts of their changes. For 

 amphibious landings, naval forces require 

 forecasts of tide, tidal currents, and surf 

 conditions. 



Tlie national economy will be served in 

 many ways by an improved capability to 

 forecast changes in the oceans and the atmos- 

 phere as well as by a comprehensive knowl- 

 edge of the geology, geophysics, ecology', and 

 chemistry of the ocean areas of the world. 



The fishing industry will be served by 

 knowledge of ocean currents and tempei'a- 

 tures, the topography of the ocean floor, and 

 the patterns of life in the oceans, as well as 

 by forecasts of hazardous ocean and weather 

 conditions. The petroleum, gas, and mineral 

 industries will be served by a knowledge of 

 tlie broad geological and geophysical char- 

 acteristics of the deep ocean floor as well as 

 by real-time forecasts of wind and wave con- 

 ditions. Ocean transportation will be served 

 by improved marine weather and sea state 

 prediction and by improved techniques of 

 routing ships safely and efficiently. 



Improved forecasts of weather and climate 

 liave tremendous implications for protection 

 of life and property and for the national 

 economy. Land and air transportation also 

 will benefit from improved predictions of 

 weather and ocean conditions. Agricultural 

 interests will be served by better weather 

 forecasts. The ability to track hurricanes 

 and issue warning has improved over the 

 years, but an increased capability to forecast 

 hurricane motion and changes of intensitv 



