THE NATIONAL OCEANOGRAPHIC DATA CENTER 



by 



Martin Weiss 

 Chief, Geoscience Branch 

 The National Oceanographic Data Center 

 U. S. Department of the Navy 



The papers given today are a slight indication of the amount of data 

 being generated in the field of oceanography^ and a real danger exists that 

 some of the data will be overlooked. If this were to occur, a great deal 

 of expensive and laborious work may be duplicated. This, then, is the 

 mission of the Data Center, to archive and make available to others the 

 data which have been collected. 



We have been handling bathythermograph and other physical oceanographic 

 data for several years. More recently a program for core, grab, and dredge 

 samples has been completed. A manual has been prepared and, although some 

 changes are contemplated, it is a viable instrument. Formats to list the 

 physical and chemical properties of the sediments are in preparation. Other 

 formats concerning the natural resources and engineering properties of the 

 sea bottom are under consideration. 



Finally, the National Oceanographic Data Center does not wish to 

 duplicate the mission of any other agency. Nor do we want to see expensive 

 investigations repeated because the data were unavailable. 



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