There's a lot going on at NOAA's National Ocean Service.
Alaska has the longest coastline of any state in the nation. The state is also tectonically active and known for its challenging weather and ocean conditions. Many federal agencies are involved with the modernization of critical geospatial data and mapping products for Alaska, with NOAA’s National Geodetic Survey (NGS) playing a leading role.
NOAA's Office of Response and Restoration, or OR&R for short protects and restores ocean and coastal resources from the impacts of threats such as oil, chemicals, marine debris, and disasters to benefit the environment, public, and economy. For 25 years, OR&R experts have played a key role ensuring that our coastal communities are resilient and protected for future generations.
Scientists at the National Geodetic Survey have completed a 16-year-long project to collect airborne gravity data over the entire US and its territories. This project is called the Gravity for the Redefinition of the American Vertical Datum, or GRAV-D for short. When it is completed, you will be able to get accurate heights to within about an inch for most locations around the nation.
In 2023, NOAA and partners helped to recover over $92.8 million from polluters to restore seven waterways in six states following oil spill and industrial pollution incidents. These restoration efforts will benefit fish, wildlife, and disadvantaged communities disproportionately impacted by pollution.
NOS is stepping into a larger role relative to filling our nation’s needs for data, products, and services that protect our ecosystems and enhance climate and economic resilience. The newly released NOS Strategic Plan focuses on four overarching goals: increase U.S. coastal resilience, make equity central to our mission, accelerate growth of the Ocean Enterprise and the Blue Economy, and conserve, restore, and connect healthy coastal and marine ecosystems.
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