56 



THE NAVY OCEANOGRAPHIC OPERATIONS PROGRAM 



providing synoptic ice reports over large areas of the Arctic and 

 Antarctic for use in preparing forecasts in support of surface 

 and subsurface naval operations. About 500,000 miles of ice 

 reconnaissance are now flown each year, providing an average 

 of 18,000 observations made in accordance with a detailed numer- 

 ical code. Satellite pictures of sea ice, showing such gross features 

 as ice boundaries and major open-water features, are being used 

 experimentally by ice forecasters. Improvements in methods of 

 obtaining data and in interpretation techniques within the next 

 few years should greatly enhance our knowledge of ice distribution, 

 movement, disintegration, and formation. 



RANGE SURVEYS 



Oceanographic survey operations in support of the Navy's 

 underwater range programs began in 1961 with project AUTEC 

 (Atlantic Undersea Test and Evaluation Center), followed in 

 1962 by the first of two surveys for the St. Croix Range. Sub- 

 sequent surveys were conducted for underwater tactical ranges 

 in Kauai, Hawaii (1964) and Vieques, Puerto Rico (1967). These 

 fine-grained surveys require very precise navigational control and 



;.;--jif-:v^'"r-'^ 



Oceanographic operations headquarters for the Atlantic 

 Undersea Test and Evalvntion Center. 



