1. INTRODUCTION 



A number of naval, fisheries and other maritime operations require 

 a knowledge of the direction and speed of surface currents, as v^rell 

 as their past and near future behavior. The Fleet Numerical Vveather 

 Facility (FNVvF) at Monterey, California, became interested in ocean 

 currents primarily because ox their importance in Anti-Submarine (ASVv) 

 applications . 



Large variations have been observed in thermocline depth which 

 cannot be explained by mechanical or convective mixing. These changes 

 exhibit cycles which correspond closely to the evolution of synoptic 

 weather patterns over the ocean. It is quite clear that current atlases 

 cannot be used to predict thermocline depth when considerable change 

 can occur in a period of a few days. Vvhat is needed for this particular 

 problem are daily current analyses and prognoses . 



Navigators also undoubtedly find that atlases, monthly mean charts 

 and the like frequently do not give an exact enough answer to the question: 

 what is the current at a given point in space and time? The purpose of 

 this paper is to report on an attempt to compute surface current flow 

 on a quasi-synoptic schedule and to show some preliminary results. 

 If these results appear to be of use to navigation, means will be found 

 to accomplish dissemination. 



