WMO, questions arise regarding the respective 

 domains of the IOC and WMO. 



Weather and ocean monitoring and prediction 

 programs are limited by insufficient data from the 

 world's oceans. We have noted that the World 

 Weather Program, under the aegis of the WMO, 

 would provide additional sea-surface and ocean 

 weather data. The President has endorsed this 

 program for international cooperation in meteoro- 

 logical data collection, processing, and dissemina- 

 tion to improve weather forecasting, and the 

 Congress has in its past session also endorsed the 

 program in its concurrent resolution. 



The close interaction between oceans and at- 

 mosphere would argue in favor of consolidating 

 international operational activities in physical 

 oceanography and meteorology in one interna- 

 tional agency. If a major realignment of interna- 

 tional agencies is contemplated, such an amalgama- 

 tion should be among the alternatives considered; 

 on the other hand, we recognize the close relation- 

 ship between oceanographic data collection and 

 other marine activities. 



Recommendation : 



Global oceanographic monitoring and prediction 

 activities should be jointly planned with the World 

 Weather Program to provide a well-coordinated 



and non-duplicating global ocean-atmosphere 

 monitoring and prediction system. 



VII. SYSTEMS STUDIES 



Many of the technical devices which hold 

 promise for an improved environmental monitor- 

 ing and prediction service will be costly when fully 

 deployed. Present cost-benefit/systems studies are 

 not adequate for rational decision-making in re- 

 gard to these major investments. Improved global 

 prediction of oceanographic and atmospheric 

 parameters depends on the interpretation of new 

 types of observational data. Studies are required to 

 determine the proper balance and mix of new 

 data-collection platforms— satellites and buoys— 

 with newly developed sensors. We must develop 

 techniques to estimate changes in forecast capa- 

 bility as these potential new components are 

 added to the existing system. 



Recommendation : 



Extensive analyses of design trade-offs, intended 

 use of resulting data in prediction, and benefits 

 from improved predictions must proceed in paral- 

 lel with major technical development programs. 

 Such analyses are required to support decisions 

 regarding operational deployment of major new 

 systems. 



II-7 



