FOREWORD 



Kkjre detailed studies of the marine environment than have been 

 routinely conducted in the past are a necessary aspect of the devel- 

 opment of accurate oceanographic prediction techniques. Fixed tower 

 structures provide the stable platforms required for such studies. 

 The necessity of locating these structures in relatively shallow 

 water raises the question of how representative measvirements at these 

 locations will be of adjacent open ocean processes. 



The unique location of the U. S. Navy's ARGUS ISLAND tower on a 

 seamount southwest of Bermuda presents an outstanding opportunity to 

 conduct such detailed studies. Effective utilization of this facility 

 in support of the Antisubmarine Warfare Environmental Prediction 

 System (ASWEPS) requires a knowledge of the oceanographic environment 

 in the immediate vicinity of ARGUS ISLAND and the extent to which waters 

 over Plantagenet Bank are representative of the surface layer of sur- 

 rounding deep ocean waters. 



This report deals only with current observations obtained during 

 this survey and represents a significant contribution to the understand- 

 ing of circulation phenomena over Plantagenet Bank. 



Rear Admira\L, U. S. Navy 

 Commander 



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