27 



Senator Rollings. For the ensuing fiscal year of 1974, will you be 

 cutting back on those research grants and research vessel operations, 



or not? 



Dr. Owen. The NSF's contribution to the support of the fleet will 

 be slightly less, yes, sir, than that provided in fiscal year 1973, but the 

 support by other agencies is substantially less. 



Thus, there are problems in maintaining the size of that fleet in 

 fiscal vear 1974. 



Senator Hollinc*vS. NOAA is having to lay up four or six research 



vessels. 



Dr. Owen. That's correct, sir. 



Senator Rollings. And you are going to be having to diminish some 

 of your support to the academic connnunity for the research vessels, 

 is that correct? 



Dr. Owen. Yes. We have balanced the amount for oceanographic 

 research against required ship time. We are trying to balance out the 

 situation as best we can so that the work is done with the least penalty 

 to the operating institutions. 



Senator Rollings. Is there anv coordination between NSF and 

 NOAA? 



Dr. O'WTJN. Yes, sir, and with the oceanographer of the Navy as 

 well. The three agencies being the principal funders do work very 

 closely together. I contact and talk with Dr. White very frequently 

 and with Admiral Snyder, the Oceanographer of the Navy, sir. 



Senator Rollings. Thank you. 



Dr. Stever. May I add that Dr. White is chairman of an interagency 

 committee for the coordination of our oceanography, not only in this 

 area, but in others. 



Much of the research supported by the NSF in the atmospheric 

 sciences. Earth sciences, and oceanography, contributes in one way or 

 another to our knowledr^e of pollution. 



As examples, I would mention that observations of atmospheric cir- 

 culation and ocean currents, the making of standard measurements on 

 sea water, and the analysis of water and marine life for chemicals all 

 contribute to the broad but important collections of data necessary to 

 understand pollution problems. 



There is a growing concern that the dispersal of pollutants is be- 

 coming worldwide. Once a substance that is considered a pollutant has 

 been produced — either by man or by natural processes — unless it is 

 contained at its source, it inevitably finds its way into the general en- 

 vironment which includes the oceans and their ecosystems. 



Some substances enter the ocean through river runofi^, others via the 

 winds, while still others are injected into the ocean more directly — for 

 instance, when a tanker breaks up at 'sea or directly pumps its bilges 

 and tanks. 



Althoug'h the concentration of these pollutants tends to diminish 

 with distance from the industrial centers oif the Northern Remisphere, 

 their presence throughout the oceans is now feared to be inevitable. ' 



In 1965, DDT was found in marine animals in x'Vntarctica, long con- 

 sidered the last "uncontaminated" area in the world. In fact, DDT has 

 been found in snow hiirh on the crest of that continent — about 12,000 

 feet above sea level and thousands of miles from anv populated area. 

 "V^^ether it was carried there by wind and ocean circulation or by men 

 and equipment is not yet clearly established. That this manmade chem- 



