20. 



the planktonic forms would be. Presumably, at each stage of pro- 

 duction we would gain concentrations of activity where initial con- 

 centrations are high, and lose where initial concentrations are low. 

 This represents a very considerable gap in our knowledge of the 

 course of events following dilution and dispersion of dissolved and 

 suspended wastes in the ocean. But this is not an insoluble problem. 

 The oceanographer and the marine ecologist can make approxima- 

 tions to determine theoretical standards for the allowable concentra- 

 tion of isotopes. This would force the ecologist to examine all the 

 important variables that enter into the marine environment. 



The geologists presented an interesting discussion of ground 

 water: it was suggested that it might be possible to enter some ar- 

 tesian aquifer that discharged at sea on the edge of the continental 

 shelf. This would make it possible to introduce waste off the shelf 

 into deep water without large disturbances. It would be much more 

 convenient than transport by ocean vessel. 



The question of packaged waste was considered. A common 

 concept that many specialists in the field of atomic waste disposal 

 have, and which has been considered at one time or another, is that 

 packaged waste can be dumped in the deep, and that it will sink in 

 the bottom oozes. A careful survey of such dumping ground would 

 be required. The ideal condition a naturally enclosed area in which 

 there is a deep bed of mud. Oceanographic and marine geological 

 research indicates that suitable pockets of mud exist not far from 

 shore on the Atlantic shelf, these would not involve deep sea opera- 

 tions, but might affect commercial fisheries, for example, those in 

 the Gulf of Maine . 



The oceanographer s are not in agreement on rates of exchange 

 between surface and deep -waters. One group represents the view 

 that the deep waters are roughly 2000 years old. The supporting data 

 depend largely on carbon 14 measurements which are not wholly con- 

 sistent. Another group contends that the rate of turnover of the deep 

 is much more rapid, that the data from the oxygen distribution pattern 

 and thermal stratification indicates relatively rapid movement. 



This is a summary of the thinking in the field. We were very 

 happy indeed to find that the oceanographers had seriously worked 

 over the material that was presented as raw data, and that a large 

 amount of diligent work had been done. They discussed the problems 

 vigorously, and generated well developed philosophies on the waste 

 disposal problem. 



