158 NATIONAL OCEANOGRAPHIC PROGRAM—1965 
FEDERAL COUNCIL FOR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY 
INTERDEPARTMENTAL COMMITTEE FOR ATMOSPHERIC SCIENCES 
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20230 
AIR-SEA_ INTERACTION PLANNING 
In the spring of 1960 the National Academy Committees on 
Oceanography and Atmospheric Sciences jointly appointed a panel 
to study the area of mutual concern -- research on the inter- 
actions between the air and the sea. 
The joint panel under Dr. George S. Benton of John Hopkins 
University, produced NAS-NRC Publication 983, “Interaction 
Between the Atmosphere and the Oceans", in January 1962. 
This report made six recommendations: 
1) Techniques must be developed for various measurements 
in the boundary layer of the atmosphere and the ocean. 
2) Investigation of the physics and chemistry of the 
interfacial zone and the effect of its properties on 
exchange mechanisms must be pursued. 
3) Special area studies should be undertaken to provide 
experimental facilities for field tests of equipment. 
4) Systems of fixed stations instrumented for atmospheric 
and oceanographic observations must be established. 
5) Marine meteorological observations from ships should 
be improved in quality and extended in scope. 
6) Automatic recording, processing, reduction and storage 
of data should be employed wherever appropriate. 
The Interagency Committee on Oceanography (ICO) and the Inter- 
departmental Committee for Atmospheric Sciences (ICAS) reviewed 
this report and endorsed the identification of and emphasis on 
the problems of research, In a joint letter to Dr. Wiesner of 
24 September 1962, it was recommended that the Academy draft a 
specific program of implementation to be included in the Academy's 
<“report on oceanography and atmospheric sciences to be further 
considered by ICO and ICAS for inclusion within their total 
national programs. 
