The Ocean Studies Board of the National Academy of Sciences will continue in 1987 its efforts in support of planning, review and evaluation of U.S. ocean science research programs and related activities. The OSB has established three sub-groups to address issues of interest to the National Science Foundation: Arctic Ocean Research, ocean climate research, and international ocean science policy. The Artic Ocean group will advise NSF on possible areas of future research in the Arctic Ocean and will serve as the primary U.S. interface with the international Arctic Ocean Sciences Board. The ocean climate research will provide guidance to NSF and other Federal agencies regarding the World Climate Research Program (WCRP), especially the WCRP studies of interannual variability in the tropical ocean and global climate (TOGA) and the world ocean circulation experiment (WOCE). The international ocean science policy group will consider long-term ramifications of the steadily increasing implementation by foreign countries of the marine scientific research provisions of the UN Convention of the Law of the Sea. The OSB will also convene small workshops as required; will complete its follow-up of major workshops the Board convened in FY 1987, such as the workshop on ridge crest processes; and will provide support for Federal long-range planning in specific scientific areas upon request from NSF and other Federal agencies.
