Future research directions in deep submergence science

Deep ocean science is poised to enter a new millennium characterized by coo peration among scientists of many different disciplines who are seeking to gain an understanding of the complex linkages between physical, chemical, b iological, and geological processes occurring at and beneath the ocean floo r in the world oceans. This multidisciplinary imperative has been spurred b y unprecedented advances in understanding the complexities and interdepende nce of these phenomena made possible through research that used deep submer gence vehicles over the past two decades. Marine scientists of all discipli nes are forecasting that the next decade will see et en greater linkage bet ween oceanographic disciplines. The need to understand the temporal dimensi on of the processes being studied will sustain continued use of deep ocean submersibles and utilization of newly developed, remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) and autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) for conducting time-serie s and observatory-based research in the deep ocean and at the seafloor. The se approaches will enable marine scientists to achieve a greater understand ing of global processes and of climate change and geochemical mass balance These same approaches will enable them to grapple with intriguing problems concerning the interrelated processes of crustal generation, evolution and transport of geochemical fluids in the crust and into the oceans and origin s and proliferation of life both on Earth and beyond.