THE NAVY OCEAN SCIENCE PROGRAM 27 



The complex organic film on the sea surface has been found to 

 affect the rate of energy exchange through the sea surface. 

 Although water passes through this film and evaporates, and 

 cools the surface, the large molecules of the film appear to 

 stabilize the water underneath the surface and prevent con- 

 vective heat transfer from the body of the water, thus steepening 

 the thermal gradient. Complete understanding of this phe- 

 nomenon is necessary for measuring heat exchange through the 

 surface by, for example, aerial reconnaissance. The same film 

 presumably is important in the formation of slicks and visible 

 wakes. 



Studies of the ratios of deuterium to hydrogen and of oxygen- 18 

 to oxygen- 16 in the compound water are leading to a revision of 

 the rates and energetics of evaporation and condensation close 

 to the sea surface. These ratios also will have to be taken into 

 account in estimating the total energy exchange and its subse- 

 quent effect on the prediction of environmental conditions both 

 in the ocean and the atmosphere. 



It has just recently become possible to measure directly the 

 velocity of sound on a convenient, reliable, accurate, routine 

 basis. However, the instruments for accomplishing this measure- 

 ment £ire still being developed, and demonstrations of their 

 stability and performance for widespread use are still necessary. 

 Such confirmation is dependent upon the accurate measure- 

 ments of temperature and salinity. The desired accuracy is such 

 that studies of the relationships between these quantities and 

 other physical properties, such as gas content and the com- 

 pressibility of sea water, must continue. 



The dissolved gases in sea water, notably oxygen, nitrogen, 

 ammonia, methane, and hydrogen sulfide, are being measured 

 by gas chromatographic methods. The relative concentrations 

 of these gases yield information about the history of the water 

 and about biological activity. Knowledge of these ratios is im- 

 portant in planning installations, use of some materials, or 

 operations in waters where the oxygen content is low, and 

 especially when hydrogen sulfide is present. Extension of man- 

 in-the-sea programs into some areas, and plans to obtain breath- 



