ship adjacent to the North Atlantic traffic lanes; 

 this ship maps oceanographic data, including cur- 

 rents. These data are correlated with sea-surface 

 temperature data and meteorological data to fore- 

 cast iceberg drift and deterioration. Satelhte photo- 

 graphs, airborne infrared and radiometric observa- 

 tions assist in forecasting, as well as in empirical 

 studies of sea ice. Ice information is broadcast 

 twice daily by the Coast Guard radio station, 

 Argentia, Newfoundland. Special forecasts and ice 

 routing instructions for shipping interests are made 

 available on request. 



The Coast Guard provides input data to other 

 agencies' forecasting programs, including synoptic 

 oceanographic data from ocean stations and off- 

 shore light stations. The Coast Guard also supports 

 observation programs of various governmental 

 agencies, including: 



-Tide level, water level, and wave observations for 

 ESSA and the liSr- Lake Survey and Coastal 

 Engineering Research Center (CERC) of the Army. 



—Visual wave observations from CO shore stations 

 for CERC. 



—Surface weather observations from CG ships and 

 stations and upper-air observations from six mid- 

 ocean stations, for ESSA. 



—Overflights of the Continental Shelf with airborne 

 infrared radiation thermometers to map sea- 

 surface temperature for the Bureau of Sports 

 Fisheries and Wildlife (Department of the In- 

 terior). 



At least half of the incoming merchant vessel 

 weather reports are received at Coast Guard radio 

 stations, from which they are relayed, via teletype, 

 to ESSA. 



Much of the Coast Guard data collection 

 capabihty lies in its major vessels. In addition to 

 two oceanographic ships, 35 ocean station vessels 

 and eight polar icebreakers are equipped with 

 standard oceanographic equipment. Two ocean- 

 ographic vessels and one icebreaker are equipped 

 with computers. Computers are planned for the 

 remaining ships. 



The four major routine data collection pro- 

 grams carried on by Coast Guard vessels are the 

 ocean station program, the standard monitoring 

 section program, polar oceanography, and the 

 International Ice Patrol. Coast Guard ocean station 

 vessels make routine surface and upper-air weather 

 observations and daily oceanographic casts on four 

 Atlantic and two Pacific stations. The standard 

 monitoring section program consists of seasonal 

 reoccupation of seven Atlantic and six Pacific 

 sections. The location of the ocean stations and 

 standard sections is shown in Figure 9. Data 



180- 



Figure 9. Ocean stations occupied by Coast 

 Guard ships. Meteorolo^cal and oceanographic 

 data are collected routinely. Maps also show 

 the "standard sections" along which hydro- 

 graphic and oceanographic data are collected; 

 sections are scheduled for revisit at least every 

 three months. 



11-24 



