41 



series provide information on mechanisms of 

 formation and rate of deposition in oceanic 

 sediments. 



3. Oceanic Circulation and Mixing 



Physical and chemical oceanographic studies 

 relate directly or indirectly to the biological 

 studies, e.g., availability of nutrients to biota, 

 trophic levels involved, and their location in the 

 environment. These lead to a consideration of the 

 original physical-chemical nature of the ele- 

 ments, the changes that occur when they are 

 introduced in sea water and the subsequent in- 

 fluences of the environment on the element. In 

 addition, study of the distributions of elements 

 endemic to the marine environment assist in the 

 determination of the dynamics of similar but 

 artificially introduced elements, and also deter- 

 mine the carrier or specific isotopic dilutions that 

 would be available for radioactive isotopes. A 

 substantial eff^ort is supported in determining 

 the geographical distribtition of fallout nuclides 

 and their variation in concentration with depth. 

 Direct studies of physical movements, such as 

 circulation, difi^usion and advection, are also 

 conducted. 



4. Special Oceanographic Projects for 

 Atomic Energy Operations 



This work comprises special ad hoc studies and 

 assessments of Commission operations such as 

 the marine distribution and eff^ects of close-in 

 and ultimate fallout from detonations of nuclear 

 devices, or of radioactivity from other applications 

 of nuclear energy and is conducted by universities 

 and government agencies other than AEC. It also 

 provides overall program counsel and guidance 

 such as support of the advisory National Academy 

 of Sciences Committee on Oceanography and of 

 the data disseminated by the National Oceano- 

 graphic Data Center. 



Reactor Development Program 



Oceanographic research is supported under 

 the Reactor Development Program in the fol- 

 lowing projects: 



1. Studies of Factors Affecting the Dispersal of Fission 

 Products in Estuarine and Coastal Environments 



This project involves (I) empirical and theo- 

 retical studies of the physical processes of move- 

 ment and diffusion in the marine environment; 

 and (2) evaluation of probable surface-layer 

 concentration following a unit release of activity 

 from nuclear source on the ocean floor. The work 

 is performed at the Chesapeake Bay Institute, 

 Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland. 



2. Radionuclide Release to Sea Water from 

 Nuclear Power Source Materials 



This project involves soince term definition 

 from nuclear isotopic power sources in the marine 

 environment as a part of hazards assessment of 

 SNAP devices. The work is performed at the U.S. 

 Naval Radiological Defense Laboratory, San 

 Francisco, California. 



Isotopes Development Program 



Research and development on the applications 

 of radioisotopes to problems of national interest 

 in the development of oceanographic resources 

 will continue. Currently in progress or planned 

 are projects for: 



(1) Isotopic current meters to automatically 

 record the direction and rate of movement of 

 ocean currents; 



(2) Isotopic devices for an in situ analysis of 

 ocean sediments; 



(3) Application of radioisotope methods and 

 technology in recovery of mineral resources from 

 the ocean; 



(4) Radioisotope systems for shipboard analyses 

 of the mineral content of cores from the ocean 

 bottom. 



Physical Research Program 



The Physical Research Program supports re- 

 search at several universities and laboratories 

 in the following task areas: geological dating of 

 corals and other calcareous marine and terrestrial 

 materials; radiochemical and geochemical studies; 

 radiochemistry as applied to geochemical prob- 

 lems; investigations of isotopic abundances of 



