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of oceanography and the economic impact it can have on this Nation. 

 I think we have been slow to realize this. We are beginning to realize 

 this now and I wonder whether you feel this is a proper perspective, 

 both from your point of view and the point of view of NASA. 



Dr. Seamans. I am sure we all agree that if this were the total extent 

 of oceanographic research in this country this would be way out of 

 balance. To view balances one must look at the total program for 

 oceanographic research as compared to space research. 



I think this is an appropriate amount for what we call supporting 

 research. Technological investigations, for NASA at this time. It is a 

 question at this time of studying possibilities. It may be that at some 

 future time, as I mention in my statement, we should embark on special 

 sensor development and ultimately a spacecraft development for this 

 purpose. 



I don't think it is clear at this time, and it will not be until these 

 studies are complete, what developments are appropriate, and in this 

 context we are considering sensor development that might have appli- 

 cation not only to oceanography but to hydrology and other resources. 



Mr. Rogers. As to weather, do you have a separate category for your 

 research work on weather, and air-sea interaction, or is this included 

 in the $1.6 million ? 



Dr. Seamans. I would like to ask Mr. JafFe to respond to that. 



Mr. Jaffe. That specific subject — research on weather and air-sea 

 interaction — is funded by the Department of Commerce. This specific 

 $1.6 million is related to those research tasks and efforts which are 

 designed to explore how oceanography might benefit from space tech- 

 nology so it is not an all-encompassing oceanographic research effort 

 but it is specifically related to an exploration of how we might use 

 space. 



Mr. Rogers. You are saying you have no specific program on inter- 

 action at all? 



Mr. Jaffe. There is a program coordinated with ESSA. The portion 

 of the program NASA is responsible for is the determination of the 

 kinds of instruments that might be used in space to shed light on air- 

 sea interaction. Some instruments we are exploring today in the earth 

 resources survey program, and some of these instruments of oceano- 

 graphic community is working with apply to this problem of air-sea 

 interaction. 



Specifically we have recently been able to relate measurement of sea 

 state (wave height) with the lower atmospheric winds. This will be 

 tremendously important to this whole problem of weather prediction 

 and sea-air interaction. 



However, the research relating to weather prediction and to other 

 predictions as it applies to operational processes, the part we hold 

 ESSA responsible for, there w^e look to them. 



Mr. Rogers. Do you have a program already set up involving buoys 

 which are now transmitting to satellites ? Is this an ongoing program 

 or is it research? 



Mr. Jaffe. Research. There are several buoys which the Navy is 

 instrumenting, which ESSA is instrumenting, and these ai'e being used 



