Introductory Message

Abstract

The COSPAR/SCOR/IUCRM Symposium on Oceanography From Space showed such promise as a milestone in the development of this burgeoning branch of marine science that I was deeply disappointed by my inability to attend. The preprints that have come in, show that the promise of success was amply justified. Nearly everything forecast at the 1964 Woods Hole conference has come to fruition in the succeeding 16 years and in many respects the expectations have been exceeded. The excitement of a brand new capability was bound, at times, to lead to impatience with the rate of progress being achieved. Nevertheless, measured against the development of other radically new technologies there is justification for considerable gratification. Implementation of growing capacities requires the development of new perceptions, new definition of objectives and new confidence. All this requires the shedding of entrenched preconceived notions as well as the enlistment of new, uninhibited talent.