the BOMEX Project

This article, written a few days before the beginning of the field operations, summarizes the scientific and operational plans for BOMEX, the “Barbados Oceanographic Meteorological Experiment.” The basic concept of BOMEX has been described earlier by its former director, Ben Davidson (1968). His untimely death created a temporary crisis in the scientific direction of the project; however, his experiment design and his underlying thoughts have proved sound and no major changes in the layout or scientific objectives have been necessary. In the opinion of the project staff, Ben Davidson remains the man behind BOMEX. Continuity has been preserved throughout the BOMEX preparations by the Project Manager, William Barney, and his multi-agency staff. At this time, ships, airplanes and scientists are converging on Barbados. Therefore, the plans described here are by necessity final. Only facts of life can change them.