32 



models of atmospheric and oceanic boLindai'\" 

 la)ers will be dexeloped from microscale studies. 

 In storm singe research data will be applied 

 from idealized storms on a \ariable depth basis, 

 and research on tm-bulent exchanges of mo- 

 mentum and heat will continue. 



Land-Sea Interaction Research 



Primarily this research is designed to provide 

 fundamental information on the response of con- 

 tinental shelf sediments to applied static and dy- 

 namic forces in order to predict these responses. 

 This is to be accomplished b\ the de\elopment 

 of the process-response mechanisms in the 

 natinal en\ironment, by the formidation of 

 prediction equations, and by long-term environ- 

 mental studies. The project will ultiniateK pro\ ide 

 a series of ecjuations to predict the behavior of 

 all types of sediments inider natinal and artificial 

 loads. It will also result in a computerized data 

 acquisition and analysis system pro\'iding 24-hour 

 forecasts of wind, wave, tide, cinrent, and storm- 

 surge effects on beaches and on estuarine and 

 continental shelf sediments. 



Marine Geology and Geophysics Research 



Continental shelf geologic research primarily 

 deals with the physiographic expression of the 

 sea floor and its geologic interpretation. The 

 objectives are: to describe the morphology of the 

 continental shelves; to interpret the effects of 

 sedimentary and tectonic processes on the con- 

 tinental shelf morphology; to predict morpho- 

 logical changes on the continental shelves; and to 

 disseminate morphological data and geological 

 interpretations for scientific and exjjloratory 

 purposes. It is intended that this project be of a 

 long-term and continuing natme. 



Deep-sea-floor research in\estigations and sub- 

 sequent e\aluation of lontinental drift thef)ry 

 are the principal objectives of a separate jjroject. 

 As]Dects of this project related to the continental 

 shelves are the study of continental margin prisms 

 and of the character of the ocean floor. These 

 studies are oriented toward the geolog"\' of the 

 earth's mantle (sea floor) as opposed to the geology 

 of the earth's crust (continents). 



.Marine geoph\sical research acti\ities are 

 primarih in\estigations of the relationship of 

 the continental margins to the growth of con- 

 tinents h\ accretion, continental martrin tectonics, 

 continental drift, and expansion of the earth. 

 This research deals primarih with seismic re- 

 fraction and reflection data and secondarily with 

 geomagnetic and graximetric studies. 



Physical Oceanographic Research 



Tide research in\estigations are exploiting the 

 great volume of tidal data collected in pre\ious 

 years. These data will be analyzed tor long-term 

 cycles using computer techniques. The program 

 will seek answers to fimdamental questions of 

 tidal propagation on the open ocean, long period 

 variations of sea level, and the effect of fluctuating 

 ri\er discharges. The program xvill improve our 

 ability to predict the rise and fall of tides so vital 

 to navigation and safety in coastal waters. 



Tsunami i^esearch is principally in the Institute 

 for Oceanography's Joint Tsunami Research 

 Effort (JTRE) at the Institute of Geophysics of 

 the Uni\ersity of Hawaii. The primary objectives 

 of JTRE are to measure and interpret tsunamis 

 for impro\ing the Seismic Sea-wa\e Warning 

 System. 



SEAMAP Research 



The SE.A.MAP program's research component 

 consists of studies oriented toward the inter- 

 pretation and dissemination of the \ast amoimt 

 of oceanographic, hydrographic, marine geo- 

 logical and geophysical data generated by the 

 ESSA work in su]:)port of the Ocean Survey 

 Program. These activities are conducted at the 

 Institute for Oceanograjohy's Seattle Oceano- 

 graphic Laborator\', with the Joint Oceanographic 

 Research Orouj) of the Institute for Oceanograph)' 

 at the University of Washington. 



The overall objecti\'e of the program is the 

 description and interpretation of the en\iron- 

 ment and structme of the North Pacific. Studies 

 will attempt to determine the gross relationship 

 of the distribution of properties and movement 

 within the water mass, and of the interaction of 

 the water mass with the sea floor. The problems 

 of understanding and forecasting phenomena 



