Oceans drive global and regional climate.
Hence, they contain information affecting agriculture, fishing, and the prediction of severe weather. Therefore, the United States should maintain its world leadership in oceanography as one key to its competitive future. The need exists for a formal mechanism to coordinate existing partnerships and establish new partnerships for the sharing of resources, intellectual talent, and facilities in the ocean sciences and education, so that optimal use can be made of this most important natural resource for the well-being of all Americans. National Oceanographic Partnership Program. National Ocean Research Leadership Council.