NATIONAL OCEANOGRAPHIC PROGRAM LEGISLATION 213 



knowledge is fulfilled only by extending observations to the maximum in the 

 the ocean areas. 



The physical and chemical properties of sea water — temperature, salinity, 

 oxygen, nutrients, turbidity — are important to the many activities already men- 

 tioned. Knowledge of these propeilies is pafticularly important over the Con- 

 tinental Shelf and margin. 



Se^'tembeb 15, 1964. 



coast and geodetic survey peogbams and objectives 



The Bureau conducts hydrographic surveys, mapping of coastal areas by photo- 

 grammetric or other means, geodetic control surveys, field surveys for aeronau- 

 tical charts, and surveys of tides and currents ; carries out seismological, 

 geomagnetic, gravity, and astronomic observations, studies of earth movement, 

 and in^ estigations of oceanographic phenomena ; and conducts basic and applied 

 research and development in these various disciplines. It compiles, reproduces, 

 and distributes nautical, aeronautical, magnetic, and sjiecial purpose charts; 

 publishes geodetic control, tidal, current, and coast pilot information ; analyzes 

 and disseminates seismological, geomagnetic, gravity, and oceanographic data ; 

 and operates a seismic sea wave warning service. 



There is considerable interrelationship among the various activities of the 

 Bureau and many of the end products involve an input from various segments of 

 the organization. In order, therefore, and to insure efficient management control 

 and coordination of the Bureau's activities, the planning functions and review of 

 operations are carried out on the basis of six major programs. These are ocean 

 studies, geomagnetism, seismology, geodesy, hydrography, and aeronautical 

 charting. Bureau direction and general support for the major programs are 

 considered as a separate function. 



Ocean studies. — This program involves, for the most part, those operations 

 which represent the Bureau's contribution to the national oceanographic pro- 

 gram developed by the Interagency Committee on Oceanography. It involves 

 the operation of oceanographic ships ; studies of oceanographic phenomena ; deep 

 ocean soundings ; obtaining bottom sediments ; situdies of the Continental Shelf ; 

 investigations of the oceanographic asi)ects of air/sea interaction ; estuarine in- 

 vestigations ; sea gravity and magnetic observations ; analysis and publication of 

 oceanographic data ; and research and development in instrumentation, automa- 

 tion, and ship design. 



The program is part of a nationwide effort to better comprehend the world's 

 oceans, including their physical, biological, chemical, and geologic processes. 

 The knowledge thus gained will make possible the production of deep sea charts 

 for subsurface navigation, safe disposal of radioactive wastes, an increase 

 in the commercial fish catch, discovery and utilization of the mineral and 

 other resources of the oceans, the prediction of sea conditions for the eco- 

 nomic routing of ships, and the improvement of weather predictions. 



The role of the Bureau is to gather and disseminate knowledge in the form 

 of publications and charts of bottom topography, currents, tides, and the geo- 

 physical aspects of the oceans. The resulting data will be used not only as 

 charts for marine navigation but will also serve as a basis for present and 

 future development and utilization of the sea as a natural resource. Improved 

 current charts and sea wave forecasting techniques will permit safer and faster 

 navigation. The gravity data collected will permit better positioning of remote 

 islands and, when combined with data collected under the geodesy program, 

 will make possible the prediction of perturbations in satellite orbits, and the 

 effect of the earth's gravity field on manned space travel. In addition to its regular 

 functions of collecting, analyzing, and disseminating data, the Bureau assists 

 in the other aspects of the national oceanographic program by providing scien- 

 tists in other disciplines with the facilities of its ships for the collection of data 

 in which they have an interest. 



Geomagnetism. — The program in geomagnetism is part of an international 

 effort to understand, predict, and utilize the natural phenomenon of the earth's 

 magnetic field. It involves the operation of magnetic observatories; magnetic 

 surveys; repeat surveys; magnetic chart compilation; processing, analysis, 

 and dissemination of magnetic data ; and research and development in various 

 aspects of this discipline. 



