DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 



Coast & Geodetic Survey FY-62 $200,000 



FI-63 $300,000 

 Although some of the Coast & Geodetic Survey's work at sea is motivated 

 by specific research problems on which the Bureau is engaged, the 

 greatest portion is of an exploratory type aimed at (l) description 

 of the physical and chemical characteristics of the oceans, and (2) 

 acquisition of oceanographic research data for the Bureau and for 

 others working in the field of oceanography „ The Coast Survey is 

 undertaking comprehensive investigations in cooperation with scientists 

 from other agencies „ In the extensive oceanographic investigations 

 carried out in FY-1962 by the USC&GS ship PIONEER in the North Pacific, 

 information was compiled on many phases of oceanography including 

 bathymetry, gravity, magnetics, temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen, 

 plankton, currents, bottom sediments, radiochemistry, productivity, and 

 meteorological measurements. In addition to work of the PIONEER, other 

 USC&GS ships are adding increasing amounts of oceanographic work to 

 their charting activities „ The working season of the four major ships 

 is being extended to permit the collection of additional oceanographic 

 data. 



The Coast Survey's world-wide network of tide stations is the only source 

 of information on se 

 continue in FY-1963. 



of information on sea level variations, and these observations will 



In addition to providing needed data for research on physical and chemical 

 properties of the ocean, the USC&GS utilizes these data to study the 

 dynamic processes that affect the observed distributions. Recent projects 

 include studies of the effect of bottom topography on tsunamis (seismic 

 sea waves), and it is planned to contract for additional research on the 

 modes of generation of these destructive waves. Research has proceeded 

 on the effect of waves and currents of migrating underwater sand ridges 

 and the Bureau is providing a grant to Johns Hopkins University to 

 continue this research „ Studies have related the observed temperature 

 and sea level anomalies along the west coast to variations in atmospheric 

 circulation. An uowelling situation along the Florida east coast has 

 been described and explained; an anomalous rise of the land in southeast 

 Alaska is being studied by utilization of sea level information; bottom 

 currents have been studied at the outer edge of the continental shelf; 

 and aerial photogrammetric techniques are being investigated as a means 

 of understanding coastal and estuarine currents. Research of this type 

 will continue in FY-63o 



In FY-63 the development plan of the USC&GS is aimed toward providing 

 instrumentation for use in understanding the physics of the oceans. 

 Developmental work is planned on systems for monitoring coastal and 

 estuarine currents, on a multisampler for rapid observations of 

 physical and chemical factors, and improved deep-sea current measuring 

 devices. 



-5- 



