8. OPERATIONAL ASPECTS OF OCEANOGRAPHIC 

 INSTRUMENTATION 



PART IV. FOR THE COAST AND GEODETIC SURVEY 



Anthony J. Goodheart 



Coast and Geodetic Survey 

 Washington, D. C. 



The Coast and Geodetic Survey is a pioneer of nnore than one 

 hundred fifty years in the field of ocean surveying. The original 

 purpose for which the Bureau collected data from the oceans was 

 a basic requirement to further its scientific study in aids to navi- 

 gation. Gradually, over the years, new techniques for refining 

 its aids to navigation have demanded expansion of studies of phy- 

 sical oceanography. In most recent years, the Survey's improved 

 ship facilities for collection of marine data and a desire to cooper- 

 ate with intergovernmental agencies, institutions, and industry 

 have dictated participation in biological studies of the ocean. 



At long last, oceanography in both physical and biological 

 aspects is recognized as one of the most important of the earth 

 sciences. In addition to influencing our climate and weather, the 

 oceans contain the greatest unexploited supply of minerals and 

 organic food on earth. It is, also, the greatest potential medium 

 for transportation, such as underwater cargo. Two-thirds of the 

 earth's surface lies beneath three hundred twenty-seven million 

 cubic miles of sea water. Of immediate importance to the nation- 

 al defense and economy is information hidden under the water -- 

 information about the topography of the ocean floor, direction and 

 rate of the current flow, the location of oil and mineral deposits, 

 and the vast revenue of foodstuffs for a growing population. We 

 cannot escape the influence of the oceans nor our dependence 

 thereon. Despite this fact, development of techniques for system- 

 atic studies of the oceans is in its infancy. 



Although some of the work of the Coast and Geodetic Survey 

 at sea is motivated by specific research problems in which the 

 Bureau is engaged, the greatest portion is of an exploratory type 

 aimed at, first, description of the physical and chemical charac- 

 teristics of the oceans and, second, acquisition of oceanographic 



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