is conducting. Through the use of computer programs (to be written 

 in f-ORTRAN) , the operiitor can present the data in any graphical form 

 he chooses; this includes an ability to perform complex mathematical 

 calculations through the use of the computer processor. The graphi- 

 cal presentation can then be studied for accuracy and edited and 

 photographed for permanent retention on microfilm or converted for 

 atlassing from film to printing plate. Graphic displays could also 

 be stored in digital form on magnetic tape or punched cards, printed 

 in numeric or plotted using calcnmp plotters. 



The live atlas can be used in engineering applications to study 

 large quantities of data in order to establish design criteria for 

 ocean instruments and platforms. The energy spectrum of ocean sur- 

 face waves is of great significance in tlie study of ship motions and 

 resulting stresses enacted by these motions. To date, these stresses 

 liave been calculated, in part, using spectral information calculated 

 from time-series wave measurements; however, additional stress data 

 are required, particularly at the higher sea states. It is not 

 enough to select representative spectra derived from theoretical 

 curves; however, a wave hindcast climatology of the North Atlantic 

 contains a total of 900,000 spectra calculated at 519 points at 6- 

 liour intervals over a IS-month perioti. Obviously, there are more 

 data contained in this file than is humanly possilile to study using 

 conventional techniques. The use of the live atlas and its graphical 

 presentation features would allow the scientist or engineer to se- 

 lectively study these large quantities and seJect the wave spectra 

 wb.ich are characteristic of the physical environment. Thus, greater 

 reliability and improved confidence would be assured in tlie design 

 and development of ships and ocean platforms. 



Possibly the greatest single potentially significant military 

 application lies in shipboard display. The compaction of data files 

 shows that it is conceival)le in the near future to maintain a meaning- 

 ful shipboard environmental data base. All fleet surface ships and 

 submarines could carry environmental files or magnetic tape atlasses 

 khich, when updated using on-site data, could serve to produce a com- 

 plete three-dimensional picture of the ocean environment witliin a 

 specified radius of the ship. For example, sound velocity could be 

 stored directly or could be computed from salinity and temperature 

 data. Bathj'metry could also be stored in a compact form, along with 

 these data, in sufficient detail to give a description of surrounding 

 bottom terrain, l-urthermore, acoustic characteristics of the bottom 

 could also be included. In addition, by combining this environmental 

 data as part of a computerized sonar system, detection probabilities 

 could be displayed on a continuous basis or on command. Such features 

 as selectable target and transducer depths, would be possible. 



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