INTRODUCTION 



In May 1965, the National Oceanographic Data Center was invited 

 to be an exhibitor at the 17th International Science Fair in Dallas, Texas. 

 Among other things, the display included a Teletype that linked the 

 Fair exhibit to the NODC data-information base in Washington, D. C. 

 Visiting teachers and students were invited to ask questions about 

 oceanography and related subjects on the Teletype— and the Teletype 

 quickly spelled out a response to the query. In some cases, answers 

 were delayed because information was not in the data base; the question 

 had to be referred to an experienced marine scientist. This exhibit be- 

 came the "Fair favorite" as a constant stream of visitors waited their 

 turn to ask a question and a crowd of curious onlookers waited for the 

 answer to come in. The interest, curiosity, and enthusiasm shown by 

 hundreds of Science Fair visitors from the southwest United States 

 sparked the idea for this book. Their questions were limitless and their 

 thirst for information on the ocean seemed never to be satisfied. At the 

 conclusion of the Fair, the authors decided that a "question and 

 answer" book on the oceans might be helpful and useful to many. 



The questions presented in this booklet are typical of those asked by 

 the Science Fair visitors or of the hundreds of student inquiries received 

 each year by the NODC. And, of course, some questions are based on 

 the authors' own personal contacts with individuals in all walks of life 

 who wanted a specific question on the ocean answered. 



One purpose of the book is to supply answers to the more com- 

 monly asked questions on oceanography and the marine sciences— but 

 it is our hope that this book will fulfill a more basic twofold purpose: 



(1) To present factual material on the marine sciences for use by 

 young people at all grade levels, with the expectation that it will stimu- 

 late their imagination, create interest in the subject, and provoke further 

 study; and 



(2) To supply for teachers a suitable introduction to selected marine 

 subjects, with specific references for additional information. (Addi- 

 tional assistance and study material are available from the National 

 Oceanographic Data Center upon request.) 



Each question and answer is followed by references containing more 

 information on the topic. Answers may not cover some of the subtle 

 details and related complexities, because the authors have made a con- 

 certed effort to supply an answer in 350 words or less. Particular atten- 

 tion was given to presenting the material in language understandable to 

 the secondary school student. Elementary school children should be 

 able to comprehend about 25 percent of the questions and answers. 



XI 



