1998 Year of the Ocean The Legendary Ocean — ^The Unexplored Frontier 



ocean chemistry, which are enhanced by rapid advancements in technology such as using 

 molecular techniques to screen seawater samples for microbial populations, mean that 

 researchers may eventually be able to forecast events in the coastal ocean, just the weather can be 

 forecast now. 



Perhaps the ocean's greatest unappreciated potential for humans has little to do with new 

 medicines and products, oil, gold, or food. It is the chance to ponder, explore, and enjoy this 

 realm. Recreational activities along waterfront communities such as clamming, crabbing, 

 fishing, swimming, and iceboating are cultural traditions that have been handed down from one 

 generation to another. Surfing is not a recent phenomenon , but a 1 ,000 year old tradition born in 

 Hawaii. Water skiing, invented in the French Alps by a group of soldiers skilled at skiing the 

 Alps, now has enthusiasts worldwide. Since the invention of the aqualung, millions of SCUBA 

 divers have been given access to the earth's last frontier. Tourist submarines operating at more 

 than 1 8 sites around the world for the past decade have carried more than six million passengers. 

 Each participant considers himself to be an ocean explorer. 



NAVIGATING THE FUTURE 



Exploring and improving our understanding of the ocean and its influence on global 

 events are among the most important challenges today. With the approach of the next 

 millennium, the Earth's ocean and the underlying seabed remain one of our planet's last 

 frontiers. What lies ahead? Clues can be found in recent trends: 



• 



The United States is no longer the principal nation with interests and capabilities in 

 exploring the oceans. 



While France and the European Community have growing capabilities, over the 

 past decade Japan has taken the global lead in deep ocean technology. Japan's Marine 

 Science and Technology Center (JAMSTEC) has some of the world's most capable 

 research vessels, including deep submersibles. JAMSTEC operates the world's 

 deepest diving occupied submersible (6,500 m) and the deepest diving ROV (1 1,000 

 m). It recently placed into service the 8,600 ton Mirai, the world's largest 

 oceanographic vessel. JAMSTEC's most ambitious project yet plarmed is a ship 

 capable of drilling 3,500 m into the seafloor, to be launched early next century. In 

 Japan, the ocean sciences enjoy broad popular and political support; their budget has 

 grown at 15 percent per year during the past five years. JAMSTEC has expanded its 

 research program to include life in extreme environments and climate change, and has 

 used international collaboration to develop impressive research programs. The United 

 States is not investing adequately to maintain its expertise, and this will have 

 scienfific and economic effects. 



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