353. Report by the Department of State to the President’s Special Assistant for National Security Affairs (Bundy)1

SUBJECT

  • Progress Report on International Programs in Atmospheric Science

In the President’s address to the General Assembly of the United Nations on September 25, 1961, he stated that we would “propose cooperative efforts between all nations in weather prediction and eventually in weather control.”2

As a follow-up of this statement, the United States Delegation to the General Assembly submitted a draft resolution which was adopted unanimously in December 1961 stressing the world-wide benefits to be derived from international cooperation in weather research and analysis.3

At the next General Assembly, the United States Delegation submitted another draft resolution which was adopted unanimously in December 1962 calling upon Member States to strengthen weather forecasting services and to encourage their scientific communities to cooperate [Page 790] in the expansion of atmospheric science research. In addition, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) was urged to develop in greater detail its plans for an expanded program to strengthen meteorological services and research, placing particular emphasis on the use of meteorological satellites and on the expansion of training and educational opportunities in these fields.4

Two groups were established in the United States in 1962 to prepare recommendations in this field: one by the National Academy of Sciences and the other by the Department of State.

The National Academy of Sciences appointed an ad hoc Committee on International Programs in Atmospheric Sciences and Hydrology which prepared the outline of an international program in the atmospheric sciences (and later in hydrology). Its recommendations reflected the views of scientists in the United States and was of great assistance to the federal government in the preparation of its program.

An Interagency Group on International Programs in Atmospheric Sciences was established by the Department of State in August 1962 consisting of representatives of the Departments of Commerce, Defense and State, the Office of Science and Technology, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and the National Science Foundation, with J. Herbert Hollomon, Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Science and Technology, as Chairman. This Group completed its report in March 1963.5

Follow-up action was taken by the United States Delegation at the Fourth Congress of the WMO in Geneva in April 1963 and by an accelerated national program consistent with the action taken at the WMO Congress.

In response to United States initiative, the WMO Congress initiated a comprehensive study looking toward the improvement of the world-wide weather system, including an analysis of national requirements and advances in technology. An Advisory Committee was established to consist of twelve highly qualified scientists and experts, a Planning Unit was set up in the WMO Secretariat and increased funds were voted to assist in the proposed world-wide weather system study.

With the assurances of a substantial participation in the proposed weather study by the international community, steps are now being taken by various United States agencies to enable them to contribute to this program, as recommended by the Interagency Group, including the following action: [Page 791]

a.

United States Weather Bureau

The United States Weather Bureau has requested a supplemental appropriation for FY 1964 of $700,000 for a systems analysis of the global weather system. This study will include an analysis of the role which satellites can play in meeting global observation and communication requirements of the system. The Weather Bureau is considering additional research and development activities costing $400,000 in FY 1965.

b.

National Science Foundation

The National Science Foundation is planning to support, in FY 1964, research planning conferences costing $200,000 and an international manpower survey costing $50,000. The NSF is considering, for FY 1965, a university program with other countries costing $950,000 and the translation and distribution to less developed areas of technical literature costing $200,000.

c.

Agency for International Development

Discussions will be undertaken with the Agency for International Development concerning the possibility of sponsoring a conference of high-level representatives of South American weather services to consider regional climatological problems and to outline a plan for a regional climatological center and network.

We intend to continue to press ahead with cooperative programs with other countries to achieve an improved world-wide weather system. The success of our meteorological satellites is contributing significantly to the possibilities in this field, but world-wide cooperation of other countries continues to be indispensable to an effective global weather system. We are pleased with the excellent cooperation we are receiving under the auspices of the World Meteorological Organization; this is a small organization in personnel and financing, but its prestige is high with weather services throughout the world and its impact is accordingly highly significant.

  1. Source: Kennedy Library, National Security Files, Subjects Series, Space Activities, General, 7/63–9/63, Box 308. No classification marking. A covering memorandum from Benjamin H. Read, Executive Secretary of the Department of State, transmitted the report to Bundy on August 20.
  2. See Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: John F. Kennedy, 1961, p. 622.
  3. Reference is to Section C of Resolution 1721 (XVI), adopted by the UN General Assembly on December 20, 1961.
  4. Reference is to Section III of Resolution 1802 (XVII), adopted by the UN General Assembly on December 14, 1962.
  5. For information on the group’s report, which included proposals for an atmospheric research program, see Department of State Bulletin, May 13, 1963, pp. 742–743.