NATIONAL OCEANOGRAPBIC PROGRAM LEGISLATION ' 199 



Mr. Rogers. Space Agency ? 



Dr. HoLLOMON. Up to the edge of space. Let's call it the upper 

 atmosphere. The study of this part of the upper atmosphere is called 

 aeronomy. Then, between the earth and that, we have a thing called 

 meteorology. From the earth's surface, the ocean surface, and the 

 center of the earth, we have a thing called geophysical and ocean 

 sciences. 



Now, it turns out that the ocean affects the weather ; the sun's radia- 

 tion affects the weather ; the character of the earth affects meteorology ; 

 the nature and shape of the earth affects meteorology. 



The interaction between the upper atmosphere and weather — the 

 lower atmosphere and the ocean — all interact with each other closely, 

 and this kind of integration, we believe, is desirable and essential, but 

 it does not integrate across the other way. It is a different kind of inte- 

 gration, and we think that this integration is a very desirable and 

 effective one, so we study the environment as a whole. 



Mr. Rogers. So, you don't think the oceans go together enough to 

 make a unit ? 



Dr. HoLLOMOisr. No, because in meteorology and nuclear science, 

 for example, there are legitimate concerns of other agencies and ap- 

 propriate concerns, in my view. 



Mr. Rogers. I am not saying there are not plenty of concerns. 



Dr. HoixoMON. Right. 



Mr. Rogers. But what I am getting back to is to your thinking that 

 there has got to be some core, some head to coordinate these. 



Dr. HoLLOMON. No. I suggested that the President and the Con- 

 gress should decide who is gomg to have the responsibility, and appro- 

 priate those funds to those agencies with those responsibilities. 



Mr. Rogers. Well, now, how is it going to decide unless we get 

 various people who are concerned with it to do a study for him and get 

 it organized and moving ? 



Dr. HoLLOMON. I am suggesting that that is an appropriate course, 

 of course, if Congress 



Mr. Rogers. You don't recommend it in your statement, your legis- 

 lative statement here. 



Dr. HoLLOMON. That is right. The President could do that, under 

 the legislation that is suggested, or could do it now. My suggestion 



Mr. Rogers. Now, we are not concerned with what the President 

 may be able to do. We are talking about some legislation that pro- 

 poses that. 



Dr. HoLLOMON. I understand that, sir. 



Mr. Rogers. And, yet, you say, "Well, now, I am not going to rec- 

 ommend it." 



Dr. HoLLOMON. Right. 



Mr, Rogers. And now you tell me we have got to have a study before 

 we really decide what course of action to take. 



Dr. HoLLOMON. No, sir. 



Mr. Rogers. You think there is no study necessary ? 



Dr. HoLLOMON. I think that the major problem with respect to 

 oceanography is that there have been enormous numbers of studies. 

 Your committee here is devoting your attention to it. 



Mr. Rogers. Now, we are not experts on that, and you know that. 

 I am talking about an expert study to recommend how all of these 



