Gulf of Mexico Environmental Program

ABSTRACT The Gulf Universities Research Corporation, representing approximately 1400 academic scientists with some involvement in marine and coastal affairs, has developed a multi-disciplinary Gulf Environmental Program (GEP) for studying the total Gulf system of sea floor, water, atmosphere, life, and coastal lands. The GEP includes seven categories of research and development: general circulation, air-sea interaction, man's effect on the Gulf, biology-fisheries, marine geology, tectonics, and man's use of the Gulf. Approximately 200 projects are now identified and 500 more are expected to be reviewed during the next two years. The development of methodology to determine social and economic values of man's uses of the Gulf is an essential part of the program. The Gulf province is divided into five environmental sectors, each characterized by unique kinds of problems and opportunities for research relevant to environmental problems. The GEP is planned as an integral part of the national program on environmental quality. INTRODUCTION The Gulf Universities Research Corporation is a non-profit corporation owned and managed by seventeen university members located in the five Gulf coastal states of Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas, plus the Republic of Mexico. The consortium was formed by seven member institutions and one associate member in January, 1965, for the purpose of advancing research, education, and public service in the Gulf province. In November, 1966, GURC scientists announced a comprehensive program of environmental measurements. This program, known as the Gulf Environmental Program (GEP), has now developed into a multi-disciplinary national focus upon the Gulf of Mexico and its coastal lands. To our university and industrial members, the Gulf Environmental Program is both a philosophy and a program of scientific accomplishment. It is a synthesis of diverse and dynamic ideas, from many hundreds of scientists along 1631 miles of United States Gulf coastline plus the Republic of Mexico. On the local scene the GEP encourages a variety of informed persons to translate worthwhile ideas into specific projects. Related projects are combined into effective local and regional programs. The GEP then coordinates these programs in a multidisciplinary advancement of scientific and engineering knowledge. The GEP focuses upon the Gulf of Mexico and its adjoining lands the expertise and facilities of seventeen member universities and one associate member, distributed as shown in Figure 1. More than 1400 academic scientists with some involvement in coastal affairs are located in these universities, many of whom seek for their work those outlets that can most advantageously be incorporated into meaningful programs. In addition, experts in approximately 35 other academic institutions and governmental laboratories are potentially available for participation in coordinated studies. The scope of the GEP is indicated by seven categories of research and development: general circulation, air-sea interaction, man's effect on the Gulf, biology fisheries, marine geology, tectonics, and man's use of the Gulf. Since March, 1967, the university consortium has brought together in workshops several hundred key scientists to identify important needs for new information within each of these categories.