Skip to main content

Currently Skimming:

Executive Summary
Pages 1-15

The Chapter Skim interface presents what we've algorithmically identified as the most significant single chunk of text within every page in the chapter.
Select key terms on the right to highlight them within pages of the chapter.


From page 1...
... In addition to a public meeting, the committee convened an International Global Ocean Exploration Workshop in May 2002 to seek advice from the international community and discuss the possibilities for, and interest in, a global ocean exploration program.
From page 2...
... Based primarily on existing documents, the committee will summarize priority areas for ocean research and exploration and examine existing plans for advancing ocean exploration and knowledge. These findings will then be used to help characterize the technology, human resources, organizational structures, and funding that would be needed to address the identified priorities in the United States and internationally.
From page 3...
... The IDOE program recognized that exploration of the ocean required a sustained global effort with international participation, and justification for the program included issues of clear international interest. More information was necessary to describe the ability of the oceans to provide food for an expanding world population, to protect the United States and other nations from maritime threats to world order, to assuage the deterioration of water quality and waterfronts in coastal cities, to support expanded ocean shipping, and to locate new supplies of seabed oil, gas, and minerals.
From page 4...
... The infrastructure and support needed for oceanographic work is expensive, limited, and highly scheduled to ensure efficiency in the pursuit of knowledge about the oceans. Much of the oceanographic research currently conducted re-investigates previously visited locations, limiting access to new regions and restricting long-term data collection.
From page 5...
... Recommendation: A coordinated, broadly-based ocean exploration effort that meets the highest standards of scientific excellence should be aggressively pursued. An ocean exploration program should be initiated and contain the following characteristics, or goals, which can also be used to gauge its ultimate success: · The program should be global and multidisciplinary.
From page 6...
... Recommendation: Several promising areas were identified as having broad international interest and are recommended as potential initial exploration themes: marine biodiversity; the Arctic Ocean; the Southern Ocean and Antarctic ice shelves; deep water and its influence on climate change; exploring the ocean through time; and marine archaeology. INTERNATIONAL SUPPORT FOR AN OCEAN EXPLORATION PROGRAM The involvement of many nations in ocean exploration efforts would expand an ocean exploration program's usefulness by broadening the base of human, mechanical, and financial resources available.
From page 7...
... Once other national programs are established, consortia of nations can voluntarily collaborate on program plans and pool resources using multilateral international agreements to undertake regional exploration or to pursue themes of shared interest. DOMESTIC SUPPORT FOR OCEAN EXPLORATION There has been continued support for and success from oceanographic research in the United States, and a large-scale international exploration program could rapidly accelerate our acquisition of knowledge of the world's oceans.
From page 8...
... The current effort of the Office of Ocean Exploration at NOAA should not be expected to fi 11 th is role. After weighing the issues involved in oversight and funding, perhaps the most appropriate placement for an ocean exploration program is under the auspices of the interagency NOPP, provided that the problems with routing funds to NOPP-sponsored projects is solved.
From page 9...
... The advantages of an external contractor are potentially even greater for an ocean exploration program. For example, if NOPP were to lead the effort, management by an independent contractor would provide a neutral third party to balance the interests of the various agency partners and accept contributions from a variety of public and private sources.
From page 10...
... A global ocean exploration system could access observations from existing satellites, moored open-ocean sensors, data voluntarily contributed from various ships, and the global sea level network, as well as other observations that are not yet defined or routinely collected. The science and technology results from several continuing large-scale research programs the Tropical Ocean and Global Atmosphere program, the Ridge Interdisciplinary Global Experiment, and the Joint Global Ocean Flux Study provide important information and experience that can be applied when designing an operational ocean exploration system that is effective, affordable, and consistent with our knowledge of the scales of ocean biology, chemistry, and physics (National Research Council, 19931.
From page 11...
... Finding: Access to standard and new technology, including commercially available equipment and technology that is not used for and by research institutions, is necessary for an ocean exploration program to succeed. Access to commercially available assets, such as human occupied vehicles, remotely operated vehicles, and autonomous underwater vehicles, would increase flexibility and allow researchers more access to new environments, and thus promote the development of even more new technology.
From page 12...
... This will require additional activities beyond those designed to reach the general public. Recommendation: Strong education and outreach programs with global applications should be incorporated into any exploration program to bring new discoveries to the public, enfranchise the global community in ocean exploration, and develop and foster collaborations among scientists and educators in ocean exploration.
From page 13...
... Strong education and outreach programs with global appl ications should be i ncorporated i nto the exploration program. Capacity bui Idi ngnot only to multiply the program's usefulness, but also to develop and conduct international ocean exploration must be integral to national and international ocean exploration programs.
From page 14...
... FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR AN EXPLORATION PROGRAM Access and flexibility are necessary to implement an ocean exploration program. Although assets for oceanographic research exist, a new ocean exploration program that seeks to enhance the current efforts, as proposed in this report, will require substantial assets.
From page 15...
... A global ocean exploration program that encompasses all of those facets opening new areas of inquiry and solving problems is feasible and justifiable and should be vigorously pursued.


This material may be derived from roughly machine-read images, and so is provided only to facilitate research.
More information on Chapter Skim is available.