A History of Taiwan/US Oceanographic Research in the South China Sea

Oceanography is a relatively new field in Taiwan. As a maritime nation surrounded by water, the societal need to understand the seas has long been recognized. From the path of the Kuroshio to the path of the ferocious typhoons that pound the island with devastating regularity, understanding ocean processes and air-sea coupling reaps clear benefits for scientists and citizens alike. An accurate path prediction for a single typhoon may save hundreds of lives and millions of dollars in property damage. Driven by the need to understand the neighboring seas, Taiwan has embarked on an ambitious program to develop the human resources and physical infrastructure needed to conduct ocean research of the highest caliber.