----------------------------Original message---------------------------- Hello All, The following message was posted to Govdoc-L, so I am sorry for the cross-posting. I think it is of interest to Map Librarians as well. Linda Zellmer *********************************************************************** Linda Zellmer Map Librarian Arizona State University Libraries P.O. Box 871006 Tempe, Arizona 85287-1006 Phone: (602) 965-5973 Fax: (602) 965-0883 EMail: [log in to unmask] -------------------------------------------------------------- > From: Raeann Dossett [SMTP:[log in to unmask]] > Sent: Tuesday, June 16, 1998 1:31 PM > To: [log in to unmask] > Subject: Public Access to Military Data and Technology (fwd) > > Forwarded from: > Date: Tue, 16 Jun 98 20:19:03 GMT > From: [log in to unmask] > Reply-To: [log in to unmask] > To: Multiple recipients of list <[log in to unmask]> > Subject: Public Access to Military Data and Technology > > FYI. "To help increase our understanding of marine life, and to > enhance weather forecasting and climate change research, and > identify valuable ocean resources, Vice President Gore is > announcing the declassification and release of secret and > restricted Navy data." See below for more... > > ------------------------------------- > Patrice McDermott > [log in to unmask] > OMB Watch/Public Access Working Group > Date: 06/16/98 > Time: 15:52:32 > ------------------------------------- > ------------------------ > On Tue, 16 Jun 1998 11:48 -0400 The White House > <[log in to unmask]> wrote: > THE WHITE HOUSE > > Office of the Press Secretary > ________________________________________________________________ > > > For Immediate Release June 12, 1998 > > > > PUBLIC ACCESS TO MILITARY DATA AND TECHNOLOGY > > > To help increase our understanding of marine life, and to > enhance weather forecasting and climate change research, and > identify valuable ocean resources, Vice President Gore is > announcing the declassification and release of secret and > restricted Navy data. The Department of Defense also will > produce computer-based nautical charts replacing the paper > charts used by mariners for centuries -- a significant advance > in marine safety. > > Declassifying Secret Data. In support of its military missions, > the U.S. Navy has long gathered vast amounts of ocean data. > Much of this data is of important scientific and commercial > value. It can be used to track the migration of fish and > marine mammals, uncover illegal fishing activities, forecast > underwater earthquakes and tsunamis (tidal waves), and > understand long-term climate patterns. In response to the > Environmental Task Force launched by Vice President Gore while > in the U.S. Senate, the Navy is reviewing and releasing large > quantities of data: > > The Navy has signed an agreement with a private > foundation to create a mechanism to declassify secret > data from the Sound Surveillance Systems, an array of > underwater listening devices used to hunt submarines. > The acoustical data can be used to track whale > migrations, predict natural catastrophes and support > climate change research. > > The Navy also is releasing data on ocean temperature and > salinity levels collected by Navy submarines on patrol > under the Arctic ice cap. Combined with declassified > data from other oceans released by the Navy in recent > years, this new information completes a global data set > that will be a valuable tool in researching long-term > climate change. > > Computer-Age Nautical Charts. Over the next five years, the > Defense Department's National Imagery and Mapping Agency will > prepare for military use purposes a series of computer-based > charts for most of the world's oceans and coastal waters. > Digital Nautical Charts covering virtually all areas of > commercial shipping activity worldwide will be available by > 2002. > > Used in conjunction with the Defense Department's Global > Positioning System, this new technology is considered by many > the greatest advance in safety at the sea since the > introduction of radar. It will allow mariners to move cargo > more efficiently through ports worldwide while minimizing the > risk of collision and environmental harm. > > > Supercomputer Weather Forecasts. The Navy employs one of the > nation's ten largest supercomputers to provide highly accurate > and localized forecasts of battleground weather conditions. > Under a new agreement, the Navy will work with the National > Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to assess whether these > techniques can be used to improve the prediction of severe > weather over the United States. > > ---------------End of Original Message-----------------