NOTES 
57 
III. DIVISION OF OCEANOGRAPHY AND 
METEOROLOGY. 
The Division recommends: 
A. That the United States immediately initiate 
preparations for a comprehensive program 
of investigations in the marine sciences in 
the Pacific area and that the following topics 
be a part of the general program of investi¬ 
gation. 
1. Currents. 
a. The vertical, horizontal, and seasonal 
distribution of tidal and non-tidal 
currents. 
2. Interrelations of Sea and Atmosphere. 
a. Data on waves: height, length, and 
period, including frequency and direc¬ 
tion of waves of different magnitudes 
by months. 
h. Heat exchange with atmosphere. 
c. Water exchange with atmosphere. 
3. Distribution of Physical Properties. 
a. Complete survey, by areas and sea¬ 
sons, of temperature and salinity in 
the ocean, the variability of these 
characteristics, and the factors affect¬ 
ing this variability. 
b. Transparency of sea water and how 
it is affected by seasonal variations in 
coastal waters. 
4. Distribution of Chemical Properties. 
5. Characteristics of Sea Bottom. 
a. Composition, firmness, color, and geo¬ 
logical character of bottom sediments, 
in offshore areas, channels, and har¬ 
bor mouths. 
b. Beaches and wave zone, including 
trafficability characteristics of beaches 
and shallow water (hardness, cohe¬ 
siveness, mechanical composition, and 
bearing capacity). 
c. Harbor and coastal silting and erosion 
resulting from waves and currents. 
B. That the co-operative tidal program now in 
operation by the Coast and Geodetic Survey 
be continued and expanded in the western 
Pacific until observations are obtained over 
a sufficient period of time for a satisfactory 
analysis of the Pacific tides. 
C. That support be given to the maintenance 
and expansion of the network of meteoro¬ 
logical surface and upper-air stations in the 
Pacific area, including weather reconnais¬ 
sance squadrons and special stations set up 
for the purpose of observing sferics, micro¬ 
seisms, sea swell, and radar as these relate 
to weather. The program would include: 
1. Study of medium and high altitude mete¬ 
orology (above 5,000 feet), particularly 
of the northern and western areas. 
2. Basic theoretical work on the cause and 
maintenance of fog and a synoptic and 
geographic study of the distribution of 
fog in the North Pacific. 
3. Study of the thermal, moisture, and wind 
micro-structure of the lower layer of at¬ 
mosphere (less than 5,000 feet). 
4. Research in formation, structure, and 
motion of typhoons. 
5. Study of meteorological conditions caus¬ 
ing anomalous propagation of ultra-high- 
frequency radio and radar in the west¬ 
ern Pacific area. 
D. That support be given to the establishment 
of an office to supply information regard¬ 
ing locations of meteorological stations and 
available meteorological observations, and 
to furnish meteorological advice to agencies 
or individuals planning scientific research 
projects in the Pacific area. 
E. That, if expeditions are organized in the 
Pacific area, provision be made for taking 
detailed sea-surface, meteorological, and 
radiation observations that are necessary to 
investigate the energy exchange between 
ocean and atmosphere and to study other 
problems. 
F. That, since the already available data from 
the Pacific area must be thoroughly studied, 
analyzed, and evaluated before a compre¬ 
hensive and well-integrated program in 
oceanography (marine sciences) can be de¬ 
cided upon: 
1. An office be established under the Na¬ 
tional Research Council to study, analyze, 
and evaluate the data and make the re¬ 
sults available to the planning group. 
2. This office be adequately staffed by a 
head scientist and necessary clerical and 
technical assistants. 
G. That, because of the different requirements 
in the various areas and in the several 
fields of science, four vessels be procured, 
equipped, and operated for general investi¬ 
gations on the high seas and that eight ves¬ 
sels be procured, equipped, and operated 
for regional investigations. One of the four 
large vessels and the eight smaller vessels 
should be used primarily for research in the 
natural resources of the sea and, in addition, 
should be equipped to participate in general 
oceanographic studies conducted by means 
of the other three large ships. 
IV. DIVISION OF PLANT SCIENCES. 
A. Whereas there has been a lack of correla¬ 
tion among the botanical endeavors of scien¬ 
tists of different countries, and 
Whereas the most rapid progress and scien¬ 
tific co-operation among these countries in 
the study of botanical problems of the Pa- 
