398 NATIONAL OCEANOGRAPHIC PROGRAM—1965 
RESEARCH OBJECTIVES 
The Lake Survey research program has been described in terms of the nine 
fields or areas outlined below. For each field, there are included a general 
description of the program, a general statement of the objectives or purposes of 
the work, and a bricf outline of specific projects contemplated, The research 
fields are: : 
. Currents and Flows 
. Lake Levels 
i Water Quality 
2 
3. Ice Formation 
4 
5 
Crustal Moyerment 
Ground Water 
Shoreline Conservation 
wos n 
. Wave Action 
. Forecasting of Supply 
1. CURRENTS AND FLOWS. 
eneral Deserintion and Objectives ot the Program: Leake and river currents 
and river flows affect shore processes, ice formation and movement, distribution 
of suspended and dissolyed foreign materials, sedimentation rates and other 
phenomena as well as the riparian, navigetion, and*power interests. The Lake 
Survey has measured river currents for use in the design of navigation channels 
and for commuting discharges from the lakes necessary to. the formulation of plans 
of regulation. ‘Ihe purpose of this program -is to complete a study of the cause 
and effects of Isake and river currents and the inter-relation of currents with 
other phenomena throughout the entire Great Lukes Basin; to improve techniques 
and instrument use in measuring currents and flows; to develop techniques of 
forecasting currents; to determine the effects of currents on the distribution 
and behavior of water-borne foreign material; to apply knowledge of the currents 
to the design of harbors, channels and various protective works. 
Projects: 
Observe currents in three selected harborS on each lake, first on Lake Michigan, 
and relate these observed currents to those recorded upon the lake. 
Operate extensive water level gage network on each lake, first on Lake Michigan, 
to determine the effects of the forces generating currents. : 
Investigate the effects of currents in the distribution and behavior of water- 
borne foreign materials, in solution and in suspension. 
Measure outflows from Lakes Muron and Erie under unusual water level fluctua- 
tions caused by suryes and seiches and derive more precise methods of computing 
the effects of surges and seciches. 
Determine the retarding effects of ice and marine growth on flows of the 
St. Clair, Detroit and Nlagera Rivers. 
Derive lake current patterns and velocities and the relationship to the causal 
forces, and resultant mass moyements of water. : 
Develop methods of forecasting lake currents and publish forecasts as needed. 
