effects as increased pollution, changes in coastlines, and deepening of 
harbors. 
Finally, a remark should be made concerning the space and scale of 
ocean observations envisioned by this Panel. For the present and for 
the foreseeable future ocean observations should be undertaken as 
research and development programs, with specifications closely linked 
to objectives and with results linked to subsequent planning. The first 
stages should be distinctly limited in scope and in areal extent ; but one 
should anticipate observational systems covering very large areas. 
It will be necessary to establish and maintain numbers of observing 
platforms in, on and above the sea. Reliable communication systems 
of considerable complexity will be needed. Furthermore, the inher- 
ently global nature of many scientific problems will require support 
of research on a larger scale and more stable basis than has been the 
case heretofore. 
6.3. PHYSICAL PROCESSES 
A catalog on research problems in physical oceanography captures 
neither the flavor nor the intellectual quality of scientific challenges 
posed by the oceans. For example in the ocean bottom a well-docu- 
mented history of our planet is recorded, perhaps containing far more 
information about the early stages of evolution of our planet and the 
solar system than on the moon’s scarred surface. The oceans are a 
giant laboratory for fluid dynamics, which illustrates the full com- 
plexity of hydrodynamics. The oceans, in turn, interact with both 
the solid earth and atmosphere in direct and subtle ways, and one can 
never hope to gain a comprehensive understanding from study limited 
to the oceans themselves. 
We will not compose a detailed framework of oceanographic research 
nor catalog the variety of work in progress at existing institutions." 
Instead, we will concentrate upon defining specific, new types of large- 
scale projects not yet underway which seem to offer great potential for 
increased knowledge. The emphasis on large-scale projects in this 
section does not imply that progress in oceanography can be achieved 
only in this way. The large-scale projects originate through the 
efforts of individual researchers seeking answers to problems posed 
by theoretical, laboratory of small-scale observational studies. 
Benthic Boundary. At the bottom of the deep ocean there is a 
transition from fluid, to fluid with suspended particles, to solid with 
interstitial fluid, to solid. The detailed nature of this boundary is 
unknown, as well as whether its characteristics result primarily from 
physical or biological processes. An understanding of this boundary 
Chapter II, “National Academy of Sciences’ Committee on Oceanography 
Report” (in preparation), provides one account of such background material. 
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