650 NATIONAL OCEANOGRAPHIC PROGRAM—1965 
DEVELOPMENT OF SYSTEMS FOR 
PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL DATA 
OCEANOGRAPHIC STATION DATA 
The punch card format for recording oceanographic station data was revised and approved 
by the NODC Advisory Board on 12 May 1961. This card format was designed in conjunction with 
the recommendations of the EPOC Committee on Machine Processing of Oceanographic Data and 
others in the oceanographic commmunity. 
AUTOMATIC DATA PROCESSING 
Procedures for processing data into the new Oceanographic Station Card were in the final 
stages of development by the end of the fiscal year. In Fiscal Year 1963 these procedures will be 
implemented; new cruises will be reduced and processed in accordance with the requirements of the 
new card format. 
A new routine has been added to the computer program (IBM 7070) to compute the velocity 
of sound in sea water according to the formulas developed by Wayne D. Wilson. Suitable codes 
have been set up for the punch cards and listings to identify stations containing velocities computed 
by Wilson's formulas. 
During Fiscal Year 1963 it is planned to convert the EAM system of archiving these data 
(punched cards) to an EDP system (magnetic tape). The EDP archiving system will greatly increase 
NODC capability for processing (updating, inventorying, arranging, analyzing and evaluating, select- 
ing, disseminating, etc.) these data to meet user requirements and will provide greater flexibility 
and responsiveness. In addition, improved computer interpolation, computation, and quality control 
techniques are planned. 
BATHYTHERMOGRAPH (BT) DATA 
In addition to conducting studies on the validity of BT observational and processing 
procedures, the NODC staff has been working on a revision of the Provisional Bathythermograph 
Log and a digitization scheme for putting BT data on machine punched cards. Considerable 
progress has been made on the development of a BT card format, and NODC expects to submit its 
format for comment to the oceanographic community early in Fiscal Year 1963. 
