STD ´84 Conference Report

A synopsis of the 1984 Salinity/Temperature/Depth (STD´84) conference technical papers is presented along with the technology trends forecast in these papers and by the address of Rear Admiral J. ´Brad´ Mooney (Chief of Naval Research). His prediction for extensive use of high speed, underway sampling techniques to offset high ship operating costs continues to be substantiated by the technical presentations of the Oceans´84 conference. Included in the proceedings of this conference are the utilization of microcomputers to reduce ship operating costs, computer based measurement of a multitude of oceanographic parameters and computerized analyses that enable underway operations. Also the development of high speed water samplers and fast response sensors that enable underway measurements in addition to the development of expendable sensor technology. These advancements will continue to enable requirements for shipboard based ground truth and deep ocean measurements to complement previously forecast more extensive use of aircraft and satellite borne instrumentation.