It is necessary that the data center keep itself informed of develop- 

 ing techniques (and instrumentation) and requirements as far in 

 advance as is possible in order that it can gear itself to meet these 

 new requirements and technical capabilities when they arise. This 

 the NODC expects to accomplish. 



In the matter of communication I have discussed only two 

 functional interests. One has been the researcher or operational 

 oceanographer himself; the other has been the supporting data 

 center. There exists a third interest that occupies equal stature 

 to the other two. This is the interest that designs and provides the 

 instruments, recorders, and sensing devices that produce the bulk 

 of the data that form the background for our entire discussion. In 

 the final analysis it is also the function that justifies a data center 

 in the first place. I might add that the factor of communication 

 is just as important here as in the other areas and, as a matter 

 of fact, this is the function I am attempting to perform at this 

 moment. 



It has not been traditional for close liaison to exist between the 

 instrument and equipment designer and the individuals concerned 

 with the longer term aspects of the use of the observational pro- 

 duct of these instruments. This statement is, fortunately, not as 

 true in oceanography as it has been true in most sciences. Oceanog- 

 rapher s in the past have constituted a small, closely knit group 

 and most of them, almost by definition, have had a large personal 

 interest and competence in instrumentation. Unfortunately, this 

 happy circumstance will probably end. Many a research oceanog- 

 rapher of the future will have no firsthand familiarity with the 

 instrumentation that provides his research data. It is quite pro- 

 bable that he will have to rely on the Data Center for aji instru- 

 mental evaluation of the record because the Center will be the 

 only organization in position to exercise quality control in the 

 broad sense. 



The Data Center expects to develop this function to the best 

 of its ability and to offer its assistance to both groups as an 

 aggressive and continuing activity. 



Now let us consider some of the specific detail that is of 

 immediate concern in this Symposium. An examination of the 

 observational programs maintained in the earth sciences makes 

 it appear that they serve three separate and distinct purposes: 



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