MFR PAPER 1197 geofile available at the National Ocean­ographic Data Center (NODC).

22

The Division of Resource Ecologyand Fisheries Management of theNWFC has recently acquired dataprocessing equipment composed ofseveral components synthesized into agraphics-oriented remote computersuite, which is currently interfacedwith the University of WashingtonCDC6400/CYBER73 computers viaINTERCOM 1 (Control Data Corpora­tion, 1975) at 30-120 characters persecond transmission rate over regulartelephone lines. The components-theCRT (cathode ray tube) terminal, thedigitizer tablet, the disc memory unit,and printers (Figs. 2 and 3)-are usedas an interactive computer cartographysystem for digitizing maps and display­ing spatially and temporally distributedstatistics computer from extensiveenvironmental data bases. The suiteprovides improved access and analysisof not only extensive historical envi­ronmental data collected by countriescontributing to World Data Centersand available at NODC (NationalOceanographic Data Center, 1974) bygeographic area of interest but alsonear real-time data from variousagencies conducting field operations.All available station data have been im­plemented on an information storageand retrieval system, developed by L.Gales and D. J. Brown, called RIRS 2,3.

RIRS provides random-access, fastresponse (usually 1-5 minutes) retrievalof Boolean combinations of the keys orvariables associated with the database. Retrieved data are listed, sum­marized, or mapped onto a "live" atlaswhich can be interactively manipulatedat the terminal. Any rectangular areaof the map can be expanded to screensize (l9-inch diagonal) by defining a

COMPUTER INFORMATIONSYSTEM AND GRAPHICS SUITE

I Reference to trade names or commercial firmsdoes not imply endorsement by the NationalMarine Fisheries Service, NOAA.'Gales, L., and D. J. Brown, 1974. Setupprocedure for RIRS: A randomized informationretrieval system. Unpubl. manuscr., 12 p.Univ. Washington Sea Grant. NORFISHN133B.'Gales. L.. and D. J. Brown. 1974. Users guidefor RIRS: A randomized information retrievalsystem. Unpubl. manuscr. , 6 p. Univ. Wash·ington Sea Grant, NORFISH N133A.

Marine Fisheries Review

Ingraham

data from fishing cruises were normallyimmediately available. As a result,interest and support for oceanographicstudies waned.

However, modern technology-inthe form of salinity-temperature-oxy­gen-depth systems, chemical autoana­lysers, and other sampling equipment­has greatly simplified the acquisition ofdata. Recently simple, automated,analytical equipment has become avail­able that permits not only rapid analy­sis of data but a renewed andincreasing demand for additional datarelated to the ecology of living marineresources.

One oceanic area of particular con­cern to the Northwest Fisheries Center(NWFC) is the northern Gulf of Alaskaand eastern Bering Sea where impor­tant stocks of crustaceans such as kingand snow (Tanner) crab, shrimp, andgroundfish such as Pacific halibut andwalleye (Alaska) pollock are beingheavily exploited or affected by foreignfishing activities. There is an extensivedata base of routine serial oceano­graphic observations in this area, asshown by a dotplot (Fig. 1) constructedfrom a portion of an oceanographic data

BrownFavorite

Resource Ecology Data Analysis at theNorthwest Fisheries Center (NWFC)

Although few people doubt thatliving marine organisms are affectedby the marine environment, the enor­mous tasks associated with not onlythe initial measurement, but the subse­quent analysis of the three-dimensionalspatial fields have proved to be a majordeterrent in acquiring the amount ofenvironmental data required to provideinsight into specific- relationships. Inthe 1950's and 1960's the Bureau ofCommercial Fisheries (BCF), the fore­runner of the present National MarineFisheries Service (NMFS), NOAA,conducted unprecedented year-roundoceanographic surveys, still unequalledin scope and intensity, over wide ex­panses of the Pacific Ocean from belowthe Equator to the Bering Sea. Thosesurveys were largely in support o'f tunaresearch conducted by the La Jolla andHonolulu Biological Laboratories, andPacific salmon research at the SeattleBiological Laboratory. Unavoidably,the results of many oceanographicstudies were not forthcoming formonths (and in some cases years) aftertermination of the cruises, whereas the

INTRODUCTION

F. Favorite, D. J. Brown, and W. J. Ingraham, Jr. are with theNorthwest Fisheries Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, NOAA,2725 Montiake Boulevard East, Seattle, WA 98112.

F. FAVORITE, D. J. BROWN,and W. J. INGRAHAM, Jr.

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17r°:....·..;;W..,...-c-.,---,.-~-TT-=-----------...,...,.-.,--:..:m~-rT-~----,,,----7J~---------c.;:-=.------,6O'N....:.

Figure I.-Locations of all oceanographic stations within a portion of the NODe geofile acquired in June 1975.

rectangular block using adjustable x-yaxis cross hairs. The tablet permitsimmediate on-screen digitizing of landcontours, bathymetry, or any otherform of x-y plots. Once created, aparticular map can be stored remotelyon the floppy disc and redisplayed,

OATA--­CONTROL--

PROCESSORS 0,..-------,

plotted for manuscript quality repro­duction, or instantly printed on thehard copy unit.

The results of a sample conversa­tional retrieval and mapping sessionfollow. The keys, variables, retrievalrequest, and computer costs are alsogiven. The original NODC data havebeen reformated. eliminating extra­neous and redundant information; theremaining keys and variables are:

Example I-The following two state­ments,

IF ((TEN. EQ. 1417. OR TEN. EQ.1418). AND. (MO. EQ. 6)) RETREVE=. TRUE.

IF ((FIVE. EQ. 3. OR FIVE. EQ. 4).AND. (DEPTH. EQ. 0)) RETREVE =.TRUE.

Figure 2.-Diagram of system components.

Figure 3.-W. James Ingraham, Jr. (left)and Daniel J. Brown (right), operatingcomputer graphics components.

Example 2-The following two state­ments,

request the retrieval of all data at thesea surface from a 97,000 card imagedata base for the month of June in four5° Marsden quadrants that encompassBristol Bay and the western Gulf ofAlaska. The retrieval cost was $4.59,and it took 8 minutes for the computerto respond after retrieving 488 cardimages from the master data file. Oncethe new data file is created, any of thevariables or keys can be superimposedon a Mercator map projection of thearea.

For example, LATD and LOND ofstation locations were selected andprocessed by a graphics program. Thisproduced a dotplot superimposed onthe appropriate portion of the map in 2minutes (Fig. 4) that can be previewedon the terminal screen. The informa­tion is stored for re-use and a paper(hard) copy is made.

CountryCruiseConsecutive numberTen degree squareOne degree squareFive degree squareLatitude degreesLatitude minutesLongitude degreesLongitude minutes

YearMonthDayShipDepth to bottom, meters

Keys

CNYCRUCONSTENONEFIVELATDLATMLONDLONM

YEARMODAYSHIPDBOT

DEPTH Depth of sample, metersTEMP Temperature, °CSALIN Salinity, '/00

SIGT Density, gilOXY Oxygen, ml/lDYD Dynamic depth anomaly

Variables

COl 1132

TERMINAL

T4014

TERMINAL

August 1976 23

59·

·0

~D 58·

0 57·

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56·

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Figure 4.-Location of oceanographic stations available for the month of June .

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Figure 5.-Sea surface temperature (·el data available for June 1971.

Marine Fisheries Review

IF ((TEN. EQ. 1417. OR. TEN. EQ.1418). AND. (MO. EQ. 6). AND.(YEAR. EQ. 1971)) RETREVE =TRUE.

IF (FIVE. EQ. 3. OR. FIVE. EQ. 4).AND (DEPTH. EQ. 0)) RETREVE =.TRUE.

request the retrieval of all data at thesea surface for the specific month, June1971. Retrieval cost was $1.60 and 4minutes was required to select the 78card images meeting the retrieval cri­teria. Instead of creating a dotplot ofstation locations, this time surfacetemperature values in the two 5°Marsden squares encompassing theeastern Bering Sea were selected, pre­viewed, and printed (Fig. 5)-again, ina matter of seconds. These examplesdemonstrate two simple applications ofdata retrieval and the accompanyingdisplays that assist in analyses ofenvironmental conditions. Obviouslythe inherent versatility and capabilityof these new techniques provide con­venient methods of studying variouscomponents of ecosystems. Maps withhigher resolution of the coastline, andif desired with bathymetry, can bedigitized interactively on the graphicstablet, and various horizontal physical,chemical, biological, and geologicalfields can be viewed sequentially or

even superimposed on the CRT termi­nal.

FUTURE REQUIREMENTSAND PLANS

The ability to manipulate largeamounts of data has clearly indicatedthe paucity of observations near thesea floor over the continental shelf andslope. Although early water samplingdevices (e.g., Nansen bottles)· werevulnerable to damage by draggingalong the bottom because of the delaysinherent in tripping devices, acoustic"pingers" (that accurately indicate thedepth of the device off the bottom),acoustic tripping mechanisms (operablein conjunction with Nansen bottles),and salinity-temperature-depth sensorspresently eliminate this problem.Nevertheless, although today an in­creasing number of marine scientistsare interested in the total vertical fieldof mass, many will have to beencouraged to obtain observations ofwater properties down to the sea flooritself if we are to increase our under­standing of the ecology of this area ofthe ocean.

This computer information systemand graphics suite permits an inter­active, iterative method of analysis ofvarious environmental data, thus opti­mizing benefit of the speed of theconversational remote terminal and

heuristic human capabilities. 'rhese arecomplementary roles, and computergraphics provides a high level languageinterface between man and machine.Further development of computer soft­ware is planned in conjunction with notonly numerous "live" and historical en­vironmental atlases of finite coastalareas, but also with hydrodynamicaland ecosystem models, which willprovide insight into multispecies andecological interacting variables.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

L. L. Low was instrumental ininitially bringing to the NWFC thisform of computer graphic technique inrelation to fisheries problems and hasassisted us in establishing this pro­gram. Partial funds were provided bythe NOAA Outer Continental ShelfEnvironmental Assessment Program(OCSEAP) through Research Unit No.357.

LITERATURE CITED

Control Data Corporation. 1975. INTERCOMreference manual. Control data Cyber 70computer systems, Models 72, 73. 74; 6000computer systems. Control Data Corp.,Calif.

National Oceanographic Data Center. 1974.User's guide to NODC's data services. Nat!.Oceanogr. Data Cent., Environ. Data Serv.,Key Oceanogr. Rec. Doc. No. 1,72 p.

August 1976

MFR Paper 1197. From Marine Fisheries Review, Vol. 38, No.8, August1976. Copies of this paper, in limited numbers, are available from 0825,Technical Information Division, Environmental Science InformationCenter, NOAA, Washington, DC 20235. Copies of Marine FisheriesReview are available from the Superintendent of Documents, U. S.Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402 for $1. 10 each.

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