INTRODUCTION 



The need for research in oceanography is expanding more 

 rapidly than can be accommodated with present laboratory and float- 

 ing facilities. To meet this demand many new types of installations 

 are being developed. One example is the U. S. Navy Electronics 

 Laboratory Oceanographic Research Tower, located in 60 feet of 

 water off Mission Beach, San Diego, California. This tower is the 

 first stationary sea-based- facility designed and used exclusively for 

 investigating a wide variety of shallow marine environmental features. 

 Knowledge of the physical, chemical, biological, and geolog- 

 ical characteristics of the shallow- water zone is essential to the 

 Navy for the development of improved methods of underwater detec- 

 tion, navigation, and communications. 



After 6 years of operation, an analysis of the oceanographic 

 data collected has demonstrated the tower's capability in fulfilling 

 its assigned mission. Much of the information has been reported 

 in scientific and technical publications. Other material has been 

 published in appropriate laboratory reports and memorandums. 



Part I of this report outlines the tower's principal advantages 

 over other methods for conducting intensive shallow marine research. 



Part II briefly describes selected tower studies. The space 

 given to each study does not reflect its relative importance or the 

 effort expended. Instead, the treatment illustrates the diversity of 

 investigations, the specialized techniques and instrumentation em- 

 ployed, and the results achieved. More detailed information on 

 particular studies may be found in the reports and papers listed in 

 the Bibliography (page 149). 



Part III traces the tower' s development from idea through 

 construction and modifications to the present. In addition, it 

 surveys level-by-level the unique facilities that have contributed to 

 the overall success of the research program. 



Part IV delineates the need for a new oceanographic tower to 

 conduct studies at a greater depth (100 feet) and in an acoustic range 

 between the present and new towers. This section also summarizes 

 results of the oceanographic tower program and presents specific 

 recommendations for improvement. 



