NATIONAL OCEANOGRAPHIC PROGRAM—1965 681 
FUTURE PLANS 
DATA OBSERVING AND RECORDING 
Continue development of and promote world-wide use of standard or compatible coding forms 
and/or cards to expedite automatic processing of data. 
Evaluate data output of instruments to provide advice on new instrumentation and choice of 
instrumentation in view of the precision of the instrument, quality of data obtained from the instrument, 
and the requirements to be placed on the data. 
COMMUNICATIONS 
Expand mechanisms to facilitate the acquisition of all oceanographic data. 
Continue data exchange with domestic organizations, international organizations, and future 
foreign national oceanographic data centers and promote standardization of exchange mechanisms. 
Continue function of WDC-A. 
Establish effective communication and liaison with oceanographic institutions and orga:.1zations 
for survey planning, survey operations, and receipt of data. 
DATA PROCESSING AND ANALYSIS 
Continue development of NODC standardized processing routines, and storage media, with 
special emphasis on automation of quality control techniques and integrated data reading computer 
systems. 
Investigate and develop adequacy of present-day statistical techniques in light of future 
observational procedures and requirements. 
Determine the interrelationship of the various processes controlling the marine environment. 
Conduct pilot studies and/or special analy ses concerning anticipated oceanographic problems 
of mutual interest to the oceanographic community. 
Using total archives and total computer capability, develop oceanographic control models (self- 
modifying) based on basic dynamic oceanographic controls. These will provide a field quality control 
service as well as NODC quality control. 
DATA STORAGE AND RETRIEVAL 
Continue development of holding-recall systems for digital and nondigital data and investigate 
automatic indexing and abstracting techniques. 
Establish oceanographic systems; e. g., a temperature system. Possible establishment of 
merged files for particular end products. 
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