86 THE NAVY OCEAN ENGINEERING PROGRAM 



In 1954, the first synoptic wave charts, showing wave height contours for 

 the entire North Atlantic, were constructed from the ocean wave reports 

 which had, for some years, been submitted in six-hourly synoptic weather 

 reports by commercial and naval vessels. By 1956, radio-fascimile synoptic 

 and prognostic wave charts were being regularly transmitted to the Fleet. 

 The Optimum Ship Routing Program, developed in 1955-1956, uses wave 

 predictions in routing ships along tracks of maximum operational effi- 

 ciency. Using wave heights, ocean current, and surface wind predictions, 

 the Navy today routes between 1200 and 1400 ships annually in the North 

 Atlantic and North Pacific. The 14 to 16 hours saved by following the 

 recommended trans-Atlantic route can save the owners of a vessel 2000 to 

 5000 dollars per crossing in operating costs. This service will be improved 

 by recent developments in predicting wave heights, wave periods, and 

 ocean currents. 



Sea surface temperature and layer depth analyses of the western North 

 Atlantic began in 1957. It was reaHzed that analysis and prediction of the 

 thermal structure would be of value to ASW planners and tacticians, since 

 temporal and spatial changes in the ocean environment greatly affect sonar 

 capabilities. Enthusiastic reception by the ASW forces of these first efforts 

 contributed to the estabUshment, in 1959, of the formal ASWEPS pro- 

 gram. ASWEPS environmental and operational forecasts now available for 

 the North Atlantic, North Pacific, and Mediterranean give ASW commands 

 an indication of areas favorable for operations and an opportunity to em- 

 ploy optimum disposition of forces. The shore-based network, which pro- 

 vides evaluated daily and long-range information, is supplemented by 

 tactical on-scene networks directed by ASWEPS teams embarked in flag- 

 ships of ASW carrier division commanders. 



The value of predictions is dependent upon the amount and quality of 

 synoptic environmental data available to the forecasters and analysts. An 

 increase in the ocean areas covered, as well as an increase in the quality of 

 predictions, has led to a development of instrumentation to provide raw 

 data. The concept of system engineering is followed in instrument design; 

 that is, integration with existing equipment on various platforms when- 

 ever possible, with the data recorded in digital format and transmitted 

 automatically to users. New instrumentation developments include: 



1 . Salinity-temperature depth system, which records the sahnity and 

 water temperature at various increments of depth 



2. Expendable salinity-temperature depth system, which need not be 

 recovered after making its measurements 



