16 



tionally. Near-term improvements in sea and air observation and prediction 

 programs also are possible and are recommended. 



The Commission concludes that the proposal for an International Decade of 

 Ocean Exploration offers an excellent vehicle to bring the necessary international 

 collaboration to an expanded effort in research, surveys, and exploration of the 

 global oceans. Execution of U.S. participation in the Decade should be focused 

 in NOAA and the University-National Laboratories with assistance by industry. 



The key to study of the deep oceans lies in improved technology. The Com- 

 mission concludes that there is no single approach, manned or unmanned, to the 

 task. Extensive efforts are merited to increase the access of free-swimming divers 

 in the sea, to extend the range and endurance of deep-diving manned sub- 

 mersibles, and improve observing instruments of all kinds. 



The development of a system for monitoring and predicting the state of the 

 oceans and the atmosphere is critical to all that the Nation would do in the 

 seas. Observations are now technology limited; predictions are seriously limited 

 by incomplete understanding. Thus the design of system components must be 

 accompanied by strong scientific programs to increase understanding of current 

 systems, sea-air interactions, and scales of motions. 



Such studies, coupled with continuous monitoring of sea-air phenomena, will 

 provide the necessary basis for coping with planned and unplanned environmental 

 modification. A central point of responsibility within Government is essential 

 both to plan the necessary global monitoring and prediction system and to assess 

 the impact of man on nature. 



Technical and operating services 



A great variety of technical services to support marine operations are being 

 furnished by the Federal Government with a minimum of fanfare. The prevailing 

 eflSciency with which these services are provided minimizes public clamor for bold 

 new programs and tends to conceal the vital functions being performed. Yet it 

 is evident that sharp expansion in some services and reorientation of others will 

 be necessary to meet the challenges and capitalize on the opportunities presented 

 by rapidly developing technology. 



A number of Federal agencies now provide services, and many inter-relation- 

 ships exist among their programs. Thus, improved navigational positioning will 

 facilitate preparation of more accurate maps and charts; these in turn will con- 

 tribute to marine safety. Accurate instruments, built to meet agreed performance 

 standards, are necessary to all marine activities. Useful data banks require that 

 measurements be inter-comparable. Centering the majority of such service activi- 

 ties in a single agency, as proposed by the Commission, will importantly assist the 

 Government to meet the^increasingly demanding requirements of the Nation's 

 expanded activities at seai 



Organizing for action 



As an essential first step in undertaking a national ocean effort, the Federal 

 Government must achieve a capability for conducting its own expanded activities 

 and for providing imaginative support and leadership to the broad marine com- 

 munity. The Commission has concluded that existing organization is inadequate 

 to these purposes. While there are strong elements, which should be retained and 

 strengthened, many Federal marine activities relate only marginally to their 

 parent agencies. This results in a scattering of inadequately supported programs 

 that consequently lack impact and complicate efforts to improve planning and 

 coordination. 



The Commission believes that its proposed program can be achieved only by 

 creating a major civil agency with adequate authority and resources. Such an 

 agency must be of a size and scope commensurate with the magnitude, importance 

 and complexity of the problems it seeks to solve, the services it seeks to render, 

 and its potential contribution to the well-being of society. It can then be an 

 effective claimant for the funds needed and give leadership and coherence to the 

 total national effort. 



The major functions of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Agency proposed 

 by the Commission would be to — 



Explore the marine frontier and its interrelationships with the atmosphere. 



Define its resources. 



Advance capabilities for its use. 



Provide supporting services including weather and ocean forecasts. 



Minimize conflicts over uses of the marine environment. 



