THE NAVY OCEAN SCIENCE PROGRAM 



The Navy Ocean Science Program covers all aspects of scien- 

 tific investigations at sea. It includes research in physical 

 oceanography, chemical oceanography, air-sea interaction, 

 geology and geophysics, oceanic biology, ocean engineering, and 

 the development of facilities, instrumentation, and equipment. 



The basic rational behind the oceanography program of the 

 Navy is that the oceans provide the environment in which the 

 Navy lives and works. The Navy must have extensive knowledge 

 of this environment and understand the how, when, and where of 

 changes in it. The ocean-science program has the responsibility 

 to encourage new understanding and knowledge to this end. 



The t3rpes of work in the Navy program include fundamental 

 research, applied research, and advanced development. Each 

 of these is necessary to meet the immediate as well as the long- 

 term needs for the Navy's operations at sea, and each contributes 

 to the others in terms of data, knowledge, and guidance. 



The following descriptions present the major parts of the 

 program. 



PHYSICAL OCEANOGRAPHY 



The objective of research in physical oceanography is to pro- 

 vide accurate descriptions of physical conditions of the oceans, 

 to forecast these conditions on all temporal and spatial scales 

 that may have relevance to naval operations, and to predict the 

 modifications of the physical environment that will result from 

 natural forces or from the activities of man. The research in 

 physical oceanography covers a spectrum of study areas that 

 range from capillary waves to the dynamics of major current 

 systems. 



The major water masses of the world ocean have been de- 

 lineated. From this information, a basic understanding of the 



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