15. SUBMERSIBLES AND AIRCRAFT PLATFORMS 



Allyn C. Vine 



Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution 

 Woods Hole, Massachusetts 



Throughout a great deal of this meeting there has been dis- 

 cussion on the sinnilarities and differences between survey and re- 

 search. It has been said, "Research is what I am doing and devel- 

 opnnent is what you are doing. " In this vein it can also be said, 

 "Survey is something we both believe worth doing. " 



To many a seagoing research worker the ocean seems alive. 

 Things are happening in it which he wants to further investigate 

 while he is there. To do this he needs to have sufficient incoming 

 data and sufficient operational control to exploit this opportune 

 time to imiprove his data-gathering procedure. This is in con- 

 trast to the generally xxnderstood survey concept where the mea- 

 suring program is laid out well in advance and is to be closely 

 followed. However, any good survey program will allow the 

 chief scientist on the ship enough operational control to take 

 advantage of unexpected events. The Coast and Geodetic Sur- 

 vey has recently done this and they are to be commended for it. 



We probably talk about research and survey in terms that 

 are too absolute as though any trip is either all survey or all re- 

 search. The most rabid research worker with his pet project 

 likes to retain his data in order to make it available to others; 

 likewise, the most dyed-in-the-wool survey man wants to learn 

 more about interesting, transient phenomena while they are 

 occurring. 



The question for us to consider here is what method of re- 

 cording best achieves these goals. We hear too much discussion 

 about the relative merits of magnetic tapes that play data back 

 in the laboratory versus graphical recorders with convenient 

 readouts for meaningful on-the-spot observations. There seems 

 to be every reason to have both types of recording. By having 

 both visual recording and tape recording available, the on-the- 

 spot observer can make the best immediate judgements affect- 

 ing the operation and a detailed permanent record can be brought 

 back for later examination by all. 



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