CONTINENTAL SHELF MARINE GEOLOGY IN THE 

 OFFICE OF RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT 



by 



J. W. Kofoed 

 Office of Research and Development 

 U. S. Coast and Geodetic Survey 



The Office of Research and Development of the Coast and Geodetic Survey 

 has the responsibility for conducting research^and overseeing research in 

 other offices of the Survey. These activities include research in geomagne- 

 tism, geodesy, gravity, geophysics, seismology, photogrammetry , cartography, 

 and, of course, oceanography. The comments here will be concerned with the 

 oceanographic research. 



The oceanographic research program is carried on under a project system 

 of which there are presently nine. Of these, seven are related in whole or 

 in part to_ the Continental Shelf. A brief description of the objectives of 

 these projects is given below. 



1. Estuarine Studies - This project is presently located at the 

 Joint Oceanographic Research Group in Seattle, Washington. The primary 

 objectives of this project are: to develop the means to provide adequate 

 information on the mean- or net-circulation of estuarine systems, as may be 

 required to give sound guidelines for the design and planning of municipal 

 and industrial systems and processes that utilize the estuary as a means of 

 waste disposal; to develop means for forecasting recurrent or periodic de- 

 partures from the mean- or net-circulation identified above; and to develop 

 means for providing short-term forecasts of nonperiodic departures from 

 "normal" conditions, which could cause undesirable effects if "normal" 

 utilization of the estuary were to continue during the period. All the 

 activities and research associated with this project can readily be included 

 and/or related to the Continental Shelf research. 



2. Continental Shelf Physiography - The research associated with 

 this project is related entirely to the Continental Shelf. The objectives 

 of this project are to describe the morphology of the Continental Shelves; 

 to interpret the effects of sedimentary and tectonic processes on the 

 Continental Shelf morphology; to predict morphological changes on the 

 Continental Shelves; to disseminate morphological data and geological in- 

 terpretations for scientific use, and to conduct environmental and economic 

 exploration and exploitation of the Continental Shelves. 



This project is intended to be of a long-term and continuing nature 

 designed to coordinate these vital research activities with the Survey's 

 activities in oceanography and nautical charting. 



3. Deep S'e^^Floor Re search - Investigation and subsequent evalua- 

 tion of continental-dri^Ct theory is the principal objective of this project. 



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