The oceans have a long memory and the atmosphere has a short memory. 
It is the oceans which force or buffer the global environment. The oceans 
have a memory ranging up to hundreds of years. They are so vast in extent, 
so deep, so retentive of the sun’s energy, and their great currents and 
burdens of ice so slow to react to temperature change, that the effects of a 
systematic shift in long-term energy flux, which takes a long time to show, 
persists as climate once it does. Shorter cycles affect the seasons, and per- 
turbations or “temperature anomalies,’ as they are called, produce runs 
of cold-wet or warm-dry years in particular regions. 
The atmosphere has a short memory of days or weeks. Storms blow 
over, the weather changes. Even so, there are longer term circulation 
patterns upon which the oceans exert a sustained influence. The ocean 
is thus a major key in maintaining stability or forcing change—not only 
through the physical effects of heating and cooling, but also through the 
chemical effects of creating or absorbing atmospheric constituents, pollut- 
ants, and in other ways. 
Some scientists, at least, have recognized this interdependence. The 
progress of recent years reflects the growth of cooperative efforts amongst 
them. But NACOA believes the effort is inadequate to the task and the 
means for sustaining it jury-rigged and sporadic. We say why in our 
chapter on “Climate and the Oceans, Food, and Energy.” 
Thus, once again, we are faced with the lack of institutional support for 
many matters having to do with oceans. In the allocations of the great 
funds to be devoted to the U.S. Energy Programs amounting to some $10 
billion, the importance of the oceans to the production, dissipation, and 
management of energy is reflected only peripherally. The emphasis is on 
energy production. Little is devoted to understanding what the major global 
effects of energy use might be. 
NACOA believes this came about largely because there exists no agency 
with a broad civil ocean mission, resource-oriented as well as research- 
oriented, which can respond to this need. The working group which pro- 
posed the energy program allocation was pulled together from established 
agencies. The budget reflects the responsibilities and programs its members 
already have. It is clear that oceans and atmosphere are not better repre- 
sented in the national energy program because there is no strong inde- 
pendent agency in this area. NACOA is heartened by Senate Resolution 
222, which embarks on a program to formulate a National Ocean Policy 
and we welcome the opportunity to contribute as appropriate. Though we 
miss consideration of the necessary interaction with atmospheric matters, 
we applaud the purpose and anticipate its forthcoming illumination of 
national ocean goals. 
This is, however, but a step. Last year NACOA supported consideration 
of a Department of Energy and Natural Resources because we felt such 
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