e. Data Storage and Retrieval The data storage 
and retrieval systems now handling marine data are 
antiquated and require either duplicate storage or 
very slow sorting and retrieval procedures. For 
example, the National Oceanographic Data Center 
(NODC) does not possess any random access 
capability. 
The National Oceanographic Data Center han- 
dles primarily ocean station and bathythermo- 
graph data, plus limited geological and biological 
data. NODC does not handle engineering (such as 
fouling, corrosion, and strength of materials), 
bathymetric, magnetic, gravimetric, photographic, 
or many other types of important marine data. 
These data exist at widely scattered locations 
throughout the Nation but could be much more 
useful if in compatible formats and located cen- 
trally. 
2. Future Needs 
Integrated realtime data processing systems are 
needed to handle multiple uses of new, diverse 
instrumentation developed with digital recording 
capability. Thus, computer interfacing is required 
to permit immediate processing of data from these 
instruments in a compatible manner. Progress to 
date must be extended and rapidly accelerated, 
especially in view of anticipated buoy develop- 
ments. 
Random access capability is needed in data 
retrieval from all marine data bases to ensure rapid 
access by users. Random access disks and magnetic 
drums are available but have not been used 
extensively in the marine field, except for selected 
mission-oriented Navy programs. 
3. Conclusions 
A need exists for much greater realtime data 
reduction and analysis at sea by computer or 
through relay to central data processing facilities 
ashore. Computers offer the advantage of reducing 
large quantities of data rapidly into comprehend- 
able format for prompt review and analysis. Data 
from several ships can be correlated simultane- 
ously. The resulting on-site knowledge would 
permit more efficient use of sea time for critical 
measurements and control of data acquisition. The 
technology of operating instrumentation systems 
at sea under adverse environmental and platform 
VI-72 
stability conditions, however, effects the reliability 
of automatic data facilities. 
Currently, the National Oceanographic Data 
Center is developing data bases for physical, 
chemical, geological, and biological data. No data 
bases for important engineering criteria (fouling, 
corrosion, and strength of materials), bathymetric, 
magnetic, gravimetric, bottom photography, and 
sea ice exist. These data are contained in widely 
scattered generating activities and generally are not 
available to meet user requirements. 
Recommendations: 
Standardized computer hardware and software 
systems should be developed for oceanographic 
tasks. Such systems should include data plotting 
and navigational control and should become an 
integral part of all government funded research 
vessels. Since automatic computation equipment 
presently is available for use at sea, future large- 
scale government sponsored and conducted envi- 
ronmental data missions should not be undertaken 
unless onboard automatic realtime data collection 
and processing capabilities are utilized to assure 
the efficient employment of scarce scientific tal- 
ent. 
NODC should be equipped with random access 
capability to increase the speed and efficiency of 
data retrieval under various categories such as 
cruise or institution. Branch data centers should be 
established throughout the nation, the location 
depending upon technical competence and user 
interests. 
To be most effective, NODC should be sup- 
ported entirely as a line item in a single agency’s 
budget. This could be achieved best as an adjunct 
to an expanded Navy ocean mission to support 
national objectives (see Chapters 2 and 4), espe- 
cially since much NODC-held data will be from 
classified Navy missions. 
K. Life Support 
Life support in small submersibles, cargo and 
support submarines, and ocean bottom stations is 
complex and challenging. Fortunately, consider- 
able knowledge and experience exist, a large part 
contributed recently by the National Aeronautics 
and Space Administration, by nuclear defense 
shelter development, by Navy’s nuclear fleet sub- 
