274 



Chapter 5 The Global Environment 



Effective use of the sea requires capability 

 to observe, describe, understand, and predict 

 oceanic processes on a global scale. Require- 

 ments for environmental infonnation range 

 from descriptions of the characteristics of 

 the deep sea floor to data on the normal 

 conditions of the oceans' chemistry, biology, 

 thermal structure, and motions, to predic- 

 tions of rapidly changing ocean and atmos- 

 pheric phenomena. 



Much progress has been made as a nation 

 and through international cooperation; how- 

 ever, the size of the oceans makes it difficult 

 to acquire the observations needed. But now 



we are achieving technological capability to 

 monitor the sea, the air, and the land as parts 

 of a single, complex system and to communi- 

 cate and analyze the attendant data. The 

 Commission has noted opportunities for 

 near-term improvements and proposed ap- 

 proin-iate actions. However, a long-range 

 program of research, technology, and ex- 

 ploration also needs to be midertaken on a 

 major scale to achieve benefits in many areas 

 of man's activities, including planned modi- 

 fication of the environment. The scale and 

 nature of environmental activities provide 

 a unique opportunity for international co- 

 operation. 



Recommendations 



Action through 



Page 

 Ref. 



Research and Exploration 



Undertake programs through NOAA to explore global en- 

 vironment, monitor its motions and biological charac- 

 teristics, and determine feasibility of its modification . Leg./Admin. 



Mount a program to explore and understand the deep 



oceans (NOAA) Admin. 



Study feasibility of advanced deep ocean stations (NOAA 



and Navy) Admin. 



Sponsor a program to advance deep ocean fundamental 

 technology and construct exploration submersibles 

 (NOAA) Admin. 



Foster instrumentation development for ocean exploration 



(NOAA and others) Admin. 



Global Monitoring and Prediction 



Integrate, through NOAA, civil ocean monitoring and pre- 

 diction activities with existing weather system to pro- 

 vide single national system Org. /Admin. 



Make arrangements between NOAA and NASA for satel- 

 lite oceanographic sensor development and operation . . Admin. 



Expand ship-of-opportunity program and provide greater 



use of offshore platforms (NOAA and others) Admin. 



171 

 175 

 178 



180 

 181 



184 

 187 

 188 



