1998 Year of the Ocean The Oceans and National Security 



The postwar and post-Sputnik periods from 1 960 to 1 980 were marked by growing 

 national awareness of the world and an intense interest in science. In marine science, interest 

 broadened globally , leading to such major ocean-related programs as the International 

 Geophysical Year, the Deep Sea Drilling Project and the International Decade of Ocean 

 Exploration. While originally responsible for the postwar academic expansion of oceanography, 

 the Navy is progressively concentrating its support in a more limited number of Navy-relevant 

 areas, but continues to provide some oceanographic research vessels to U.S. academic 

 institutions and provide research opportunities for use of specialized platforms.'" 



Oceanographic research studies with national security implications include 

 hydrodynamics, marine life, the interaction of seawater with ocean boundaries, ocean acoustics, 

 and geoacoustics. Knowledge of the exchanges of energy, heat, and mass at the ocean- 

 atmosphere interface is important to climate and weather prediction. Oceanographic research has 

 advanced from the past era of exploration to one of increased observation and description of 

 oceans systems and interactions with the atmosphere. 



Beyond Ocean Scientific Research: Civil Applications 



Over the years, practical oceanic research has resulted in spin-offs which benefit 

 everyone worldwide. Navigation charts and aids are the prime example of a naval contribution 

 which benefits civilian mariners worldwide. The National Imagery and Mapping Agency 

 (NIMA) is chartered to provide DoD-wide mapping, charting, and geodesy support. Under the 

 Navy's direction, NIMA is producing digital replications of traditional paper nautical charts to 

 support the Navy's transition from paper to digital navigation products. Known as Digital 

 Nautical Charts (DNC),''"'^ these digital charts allow near real-time display of one's own GPS 

 position and significantly enhance the safety of navigation at sea. Through joint efforts between 

 the Navy and NIMA, new survey sounding information will also be seamlessly incorporated into 

 future editions of DNC'"'^. NIMA's world leadership in the production of digital charts holds 

 considerable promise for the civil sector. 



The Navy also took the lead in providing LORAN and the two-dimensional TRANSIT 

 satellite navigation system for maritime navigation. These programs led to the development of 

 the current standard, the joint three-dimensional NAVSTAR global positioning system (GPS). 

 GPS relies in part on space-borne clocks developed by the Naval Research Laboratory's 

 Timation program. '"^ Mariners worldwide benefit from these navigation aids. 



'2 Research Facilities: ONR assists in the management of tlie federal and academic tleet of oceanographic research ships, 

 remotely operated vehicle (ROV) technologies (manipulative capabilities), and other oceanographic platforms that support the 

 Department of the Navy and national science and technology projects. The Navy is exploring the use of other specialized 

 platforms (e.g., ALVIN, ROVs, AUVs. etc.) to increase science and technology capabilities. The Coast Guard provides support 

 to ocean research by operating and maintaining the U.S.' only polar icebreakers. Currently, there are two of these valuable assets 

 in commission with a third under construction. These platforms are tasked with the re-supply of U.S. research facilities in the 

 Arctic and Antarctic regions as well as providing research facilities onboard for use by embarked scientists. 

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