Evening star., 1924-08-31
MAPPING Of OCEAN
BOTTOM j. S. PLAN
Better Weather Forecasting,
More Fish Food and Oil
Likely Results.

LINCly IlCoUlkSs
IncaIculable benefits. to the peop!, OF
the United States may result from an
expedition to be conducted by the
photographic office Of the Navy Depart
ment next year for the exploration of
the bottom of the ocean, starting with
the Gulf of Mexico.
From the data collected the follow
ing direct results are possible, accord
ing to Naval officials who have con-
ferred on the program for the pro-
posed survey:
l. Long distance weather forecasting.
Rainfall and temperature in the South
and Middle West depend directly on
conditions in the Gulf Of Mexico which,
at present, are practically unknown.
The rainfall consists mostly of water
from the gulf evaporated from the
surface and distributed in the form of
rain. Whether the wheat growing
regions are to have a wet or dry sum
mer hinges on the temperature of the
water. which. in turn, depends on
solar radiation; the amount of salt con-
tanned in the surface waters. which
largely determines the rate of evapora-
tion; and the winds. OF the first two
factors nothing is known. Careful
measurements will be taken which may
make it possible to determine the
weather for one or two years ahead.
Cause of Cool Summer.
photographic office officials at
tribute the unusually cold Summer
in the Wheat-growing area this year
to the cooler water caused by lower
solar radiation. They look ahead to
one or two more cold Summers be-
fore the gulf waters will have re-
turned to normal and produced a di-
rect effect on the atmosphere over
the land.
.. Definite location of great oil
reserves under the floor of the gulf.
The presence of these are now known
only through chance reports from
ships which have passed through sec
tions of the water clouded with oil.
BY geographic knowledge of the
ocean bottom it will be possible to
determine just where drillers are
likely to strike OIL The expense of
sinking wells under so fathoms of
water is. of course. enormous. 1t
could not be accomplished Brofitably
by a hit or miss method 1t is con-
sldered probable that enough oil can
be obtained from this source to tide
the nation over many years after the
land supplies have been exhausted
). Location of fishing grounds. The
ioii u -hthlSo Is Unusually prOllnC
IN edible fish. Their capture at pres
ent, however. is largely matter of
chance. Nobody knows the head
quarters Of many of the schools or
their wanderings at various times of
the year
May Increase Food supply.
=. Determination of the food sup
ply or fish. Great Quantities of mud
are carried into the gulf each wear
by the Mississippi, much of it from
the rich farming land of the Middle
west Ihls serves as soil for the
minute plants on which the smaller
Hshes live, and these in their turn
are eaten by the larger fish. 1t is
possible that this great weight of
mud deposited on the floor of the gulf
every year may upset the equilib-
rum of the land and result in earth
quakes in Mexico and Central
America.
5. Study of the origin and course
or the gulf stream. This ocean cur
rent vltally affects the climate of the
atlantic coast. 1t was first mapped
IN 1872 by Benjamin Franklin, but
since that time little has been done
on the subject in America 1t is
known, however, that the gulf stream
has been perceptibly cooler this year,
and this probably accounts for the
exceptionally bad Summer in the
British Isles, France, Belgium and
Germany. The unusual conditions
encountered by the American flyers
in Iceland and Greenland also depend
to an appreciable extent on the cooler
water from the Gulf of Mexico. If
more accurate knowledge is obtained
1T may be possible to forecast such
conditions months in advance. Later
1t is planned to extend the survey to
all the ocean areas touching the
United States.
Ocean Affects Climate.
The climate of the Pacific coast, for
Instance, depends largely on the
ocean. This Summer California is
suffering from lack of rain to an un-
usual degree. This is probably due
to the season upwelling of cold salt
water from the great abyss which
chillS the air and causes it to lose
it's moisture in the form of fog,
which largely is absorbed by the sea-
Fog might be predicted for weeks in
advance.
6. Study of the causes and origins
of ocean storms. The great hurricanes
which sweep up the Atlantic coast,
one of which caused SO much damage
to shipping last week, originate
somewhere near the West Indies.
T,
know comparatively little concerning
their causes and are unable to predict
them until they actually have started
The ocean, which includes about
two-thirdS of the surface of the
globe, is practically unexplored. ac-
cording to those who are planning
the expedition. Study of the marine
life of the ocean alone is expected
to reveal hitherto unknown species
of animal life. Discoveries in this
line may be the most sensational of
the expedition.
May Find Buried Continents.
Buried continents may be discov-
cred. 1t is we'll known. for instance,
that under the Indian Ocean is a great
land mass, which was continent
cal history. How much of the history
of the world may have originated on
this continent is not known.
While the exploration will be in
charge of the Navy Department it
will be largely in the form of CO.
operative enterprise between the diff
ferent government services. The U. s.
Solace, built as a merchant ship in
1896 and used as hospital ship dur
ing the Spanish American War, will
be used. 1t has a 20-foot draft and
500-ton displacement.
The plans now are in charge of the
following executive committee: Capt
+. b. Bassett of the Navy Hydro
graphic office; Lieut.. Comdr. G. E.
Brandt, photographic office; Capt.
r. o. Crisp. Coast Guard; Lieut.. Col.
Z. A. Soane, Signal Corps; G. w. Lit
rIehales. photographic office; DR..
David White, Geological Survey; DR..
E. D. Ball, Department of Agricul-
turs: DR.. H. B. Bigelow, Bureau Of