82 THE NAVY OCEANOGRAPHIC OPERATIONS PROGRAM 



Atlas of the North Atlantic Ocean, Physical Properties), the Sea 

 of Okhotsk, Southeast Asian waters (Temperature, Salinity, and 

 Density of the World Seas: South China Sea and Adjacent Gulf), 

 the coast of Brazil, and the Tongue of the Ocean (Environmental 

 Atlas of the Tongue of the Ocean). In addition, considerable 

 technical and advisory assistance has been given to nondefense 

 agencies, government contractors, and foreign oceanographic 

 activities. 



With the increasing use of continuous oceanographic sensing 

 and recording devices, the problem of automatic data processing 

 will become more acute. Additionally, satellite oceanography 

 may provide simultaneous, large area coverage heretofore 

 unavailable to the physical oceanographer. 



SOUND PROPAGATION 



In order to achieve a better understanding of the acoustic 

 structure of the North Atlantic Ocean, aproximately 23,000 sound 

 velocity profiles have been analyzed. The results are contained 

 in the Oceanographic Atlas of the North Atlantic Ocean, one 

 section of which depicts the sound velocity structure by season 

 from the Equator to 68° N. A similar analysis is underway for the 

 North Pacific Ocean. 



MARINE LIFE 



Many types of marine organisms have detrimental effects upon 

 naval operations, equipment, and personnel. In response to naval 

 needs, studies have been made of particular ocean areas concerning 

 marine biological influences on military operations. A large 

 repository of pertinent biological information useful in both mili- 

 tary and nonmilitary fields now exists at the Naval Oceanographic 

 Office. 



Many studies have been made and consultative services provided 

 on subjects such as the following: dangerous and poisonous marine 

 organisms capable of inflicting injury; bioluminescent organisms 

 that may produce strong illumination at night; boring organisms 

 capable of destroying marine structures; fouling organisms and 

 vegetation capable of inhibiting the movement or operation of 



