FOREWORD 



The Hydrographic Office has "been assigned the responsibility for 

 the development of an Antisubmarine Warfare Environmental Prediction 

 System (ASWEPS). This system is designed to provide the Fleet with 

 continuing environmental information and predictions in support of anti- 

 submarine warfare operations. 



Development of analytical methods of prediction plays an important 

 part in the research portion of this program. 



This report describes a method of predicting the depth of the ther- 

 mocline or layer of rapid temperature and salinity changes in the oceans 

 from consideration of wind stress and certain other meteorological and 

 oceanographic conditions. It embodies the results of research conducted 

 by the author with the cooperation of the United States Coast Guard. 



It is believed that this report will contribute to the understanding 

 of the physical processes in the oceans and will aid in the development 

 of a generalized technique for prediction of the thermal structure of the 



E. C. STEPHA% 



Rear Admiral, U. S. Navy 



Hydrographer 



