§ Mr. Dalyellasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what research he is sponsoring to study the turbulent microstructure of the main thermocline, with a view to providing an insight into the general circulation of the oceans, global weather, and climatic fluctuations.
§ Mrs. Shirley WilliamsInvestigation of the thermocline, including its microstructures, is an integral part of research into ocean dynamics and the interaction between oceans and atmosphere.
These subjects are an important feature of the programme of the National Institute of Oceanography and of other marine laboratories. In particular the N.I.O. is engaged on a laboratory study of the stability of stratified flow aimed at investigating how instability occurs where current shear is associated with density gradients.