THE NAVY OCEAN SCIENCE PROGRAM 21 



structure of the ocean, the results also will aid in predicting 

 the temperature regime of the ocean. 



The temperature structure of the ocean, particularly within 

 the surface layer, greatly influences the propagation of sound 

 and the operating conditions for submarines, and likewise acts 

 as an important factor influencing the maritime meteorological 

 conditions encountered by all naval surface and air units. The 

 study of temperature structure within the Navy Ocean Science 

 Program includes the statistical analysis of many temperature- 

 depth profiles obtained from bathythermographs to derive an 

 understanding of the geographic and temporal variations ob- 

 served. This analysis is aimed at the development of prediction 

 methods. Temperature-anomaly patterns observed on the sea 

 surface of the North Pacific Ocean also are being investigated to 

 determine the causes for their formation and movements. 



The meteorological and solar influences which contribute to 

 the loss or gain of heat across the ocean's surface layer, such as 

 evaporation and condensation, conduction of sensible heat, and 

 radiation, are being studied both separately and collectively. 

 These studies involve the temperature structure at the very 

 "skin" of the sea surface, as well as throughout the water column 

 within the upper layers of the ocean. The convective and turbu- 

 lent processes that contribute to the distribution of heat within 

 the water column are being studied theoretically as well as with 

 laboratory models and field experiments. Other programs are 

 concerned with the location, persistence, and structure of thermal 

 fronts in the oceans. These fronts are of particular interest to 

 the Navy because of the discontinuity in thermal structure and, 

 in turn, acoustic-propagation conditions. 



The study of ocean temperatures also is closely coupled with 

 that of internal waves, which have a marked effect on acoustic 

 propagation and submarine operations. Through the measure- 

 ment of temperature from thermistors towed from ships and fixed 

 to towers and buoy arrays, internal waves and the factors which 

 govern their generation, propagation, and decay are being 

 examined in shallow and deep-water areas. Both laboratory 

 and theoretical efforts supplement these field programs, to 

 provide a broader understanding of this important phenomenon. 



