| Scientific study of the oceans originated in the United States essentially as a function of national security. Investigations that focused on the tactical and operational impacts of the fluid, geophysical, chemical and biological marine environment upon U.S. Navy operations successfully addressed many challenging naval requirements; but oceanographic inquiry in support of naval needs also triggered unexpected results. In many instances the knowledge of the oceans that was acquired through directed studies---and through complementary lines of inquiry that were enabled by tools developed for naval oceanographic research---further impacted national security in ways that were not anticipated and which transcended tactical and operational significance and could be considered of more strategic consequence. Through selected case studies, the present work explores relationships between the oceans, ocean science and national security through almost the last two hundred years during which the study of the marine environment has held relevance for naval operations.; A number of important insights are revealed in the individual case studies of Beyond the Water's Edge, and as a result of themes that repeat despite considerably different contextual parameters within and across each of the cases that are considered. As matters which address the intersection between the natural environment and security, each of these cases supports the conclusion that environmental impacts on military operations are more central to the discipline of environmental security studies than heretofore considered. In addition, a more consilient interdisciplinary viewpoint of environmental security appears necessary to appreciate how significant matters of the environment are to international security studies. The cases also support the hypothesis that securitization of environmental parameters is an important factor for supporting research into otherwise formidable areas that might remain beyond understanding without a security imperative, and which as a result engender additional security considerations which might otherwise not have developed. And logically, when consilient viewpoints afford a better understanding of the manner in which ocean science illuminates, underpins and expands environment-security relationships, they provide critical insights to policy makers responsible for the oversight of oceanographic research in support of national security and other national interests of the United States. |
