An Advanced Research Workshop (ARW) sponsored by NATO and the California Space Institute was held in Corsica (France) October 3 to 7, 1983 to discuss the role of satellite observations in the large-scal·eoceanographic experiments, especially those under discussion (e.g., the World Ocean Circulation Experiment, WOCE, and the Tropical Ocean and Global Atmosphere, TOGA). This volume is based on papers presented during that meeting, summaries of the discussions of the working groups and recommended necessary tasks to be accompl ished in preparation for WOCE and TOGA. The participants of the meeting decided that, although the collection of issues discussed in the meeting was undoubtedly incomplete, the summaries of the discussions and recommended tasks warranted being conveyed to the organizers and sponsors of WOCE and TOGA. Although not discussed at the workshop, it was recognized that an important role of satellites is as data collection and location systems. Some of the common conclusions of the different working groups discussions are that: 1) Studies are needed of the sensitivity of the ocean response to errors in surface parameters (wind stress, heat flux, SST etc.) in a variety of physical models. These should be one of the basis for determining the accuracy requirements in WOCE and TOGA.

The power of microwave remote sensing for studying the oceans of the world was demonstrated conclusively by the SEASAT mission in 1978. Since then, no further satellite-flown instruments have been available to provide further data of this type. However, the proposed launch of ESA's ERS-1 satellite will lead to a new set of active microwave instruments being flown in space in 1990. Even though similar data has been obtained from aircraft-flown instruments SAR, scatterometers, altimeters etc. - a great deal of activity has been taking place to develop the necessary expertise in handling and analysing such data when it comes on-stream from ERS-1 and from subsequent satellites. It was against this background that the scientific Affairs Division of NATO again agreed to sponsor an ASI in Dundee in 1988. Its purpose was to review existing knowledge of the extraction of marine and atmospheric geophysical parameters from satellite-gathered microwave data and to enable scientists to prepare themselves and their computing systems to utilise the new data when it becomes available. The importance of the data is largely as input parameters to assist in the fitting of boundary conditions in large computer models. The course was concerned more with the non-imaging instruments, that is with passive radiometers, altimeters and scatterometers, than with the (imaging) synthetic aperture radar.

This book describes the development of ocean sciences over the past 50 years, highlighting the contributions of the National Science Foundation (NSF) to the field's progress. Many of the individuals who participated in the exciting discoveries in biological oceanography, chemical oceanography, physical oceanography, and marine geology and geophysics describe in the book how the discoveries were made possible by combinations of insightful individuals, new technology, and in some cases, serendipity. In addition to describing the advance of ocean science, the book examines the institutional structures and technology that made the advances possible and presents visions of the field's future. This book is the first-ever documentation of the history of NSF's Division of Ocean Sciences, how the structure of the division evolved to its present form, and the individuals who have been responsible for ocean sciences at NSF as "rotators" and career staff over the past 50 years.