6.0. Opportunities in Oceanographic 
Research 
6.1. OBSERVATION 
Until recently oceanographic observations could be characterized as 
being exploratory in nature. Expeditions were undertaken, usually 
with a single ship, to survey unknown regions or to observe special 
phenomena discovered on an earlier expedition. Exploratory surveys 
have frequently provided new information which has been useful in 
asking questions of critical scientific importance but not so often in 
answering them. Another consequence of the emphasis given to ex- 
ploratory observation is that oceanographers have been physically and 
intellectually isolated from their colleagues in basic disciplines and in 
other geophysical sciences. 
In recent years exploratory observations, although they still dom- 
inate oceanography, have begun to yield to more systematic observa- 
tions designed for specific purposes. There are a number of reasons 
for this change. 
First, there is a growing awareness that the most challenging scien- 
tific problems encompass two or more of the environmental sciences. 
For example, oceanic circulation cannot be understood apart from at- 
mospheric circulation, nor can atmospheric circulation be predicted 
for periods of more than a few days without considering the ocean. 
Development of a theory of climate will require treating the oceans 
and atmosphere as a thoroughly interacting system. The complexi- 
ties of the interactions are illustrated by the processes of sedimentation 
on the bottom of the sea. These processes are governed by physical 
and biological conditions within the volume of the oceans, which de- 
pend on the interaction of the oceans and the atmosphere. 
Second, new platforms and sensors are becoming available which 
permit new observations. Acoustic and electromagnetic probes make 
possible remote sensing, “swallow” floats give unequivocal records of 
subsurface currents, thermistor chains can furnish continuous records 
of temperature distribution and “hot wires” provide information about 
the turbulent spectrum. Many other examples could be cited. 
Third, developments in data processing and in methods of data 
analysis represent major advances. Telemetering techniques provide 
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