An important practical aspect of the Bureau's meteorological oceanography 

 program will be concerned with "storm surges" or "storm tides" produced 

 by hurricanes and other severe wind storms, and which cause most of the 

 loss of life and property. Studies of these effects will involve, not 

 only an extensive investigation of the records of abnormal tides and long- 

 period changes in sea level supplied by the Coast & Geodetic Survey, but 

 also basic investigations of the effects of wind force and atmospheric 

 pressure on the height of the sea. 



Coastal weather is subject to both continental and oceanic influences, 

 and is notoriously variable „ The problem assumes new importance with 

 millions of recreational boats plying coastal waters, and the use of 

 nuclear-powered vessels and the associated contamination problems that 

 may arise. Particular emphasis will be placed on harbor and estuarine 

 forecasting. 



Coast & Geodetic Survey FI-62 $ 



— — ~~ ~ FY-63 $ 



This agency contributes to this research objective primarily by collecting 

 and processing the data used for the research of others. The Coast Survey, 

 for example, works closely with the Weather Bureau in providing tidal 

 data for storm surge studies and with the Bureau of Commercial Fisheries 

 in providing sea level data for use in studies during 1962 of the effect 

 of atmospheric pressure on sea level. Similarly, the physical oceano- 

 graphic observations of the Coast Survey (currents, temperature, and 

 salinity) are used in studies of the air-sea interaction. Meteorologists 

 from the Weather Bureau carried out a significant program from the 

 PIONEER in FY-62. This program effort is bexng doubled in FY-63 although 

 it will be budgeted under the survey program. 



Maritime Administration FY-62 $50,000 



FY-63 $50,000 

 The interest of the Maritime Administration is largely in the inter- 

 relationship of the ocean and atmosphere. In conjunction with other 

 agencies, factors influencing weather, iceberg movements, and wave 

 formation will be studied with increasing emphasis. Wave spectra will 

 be recorded on ocean vessels, buoys, Texas towers, and shallow water 

 stations. Concurrent programs in model basins equipped with wave- 

 makers will attempt to reproduce irregular seas into which ship models 

 can be run at various headings. The ultimate objective is to find 

 means of calculating ship motions from model tests with greater 

 accuracy than is possible today. 



DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR 



Bureau of Commercial Fisheries FY-62 $25,000 



FY-63 $36,000 

 The Bureau of Commercial Fisheries studies processes which may affect 

 the distribution of surface properties in the Pacific. An "Atlas of 

 the Oceanographic Climate of the Hawaiian Islands Region' 1 , prepared 



-15- 



