NOAA's National Ocean Service: Making Waves

Harmful Algal Bloom News (Episode 39)

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 09:32:52 -0400

Harmful algal blooms. They're called HABs for short. Heard of them? If you live in a coastal area or near the Great Lakes, chances are you have, but you may know them by the more popular name 'red tide.' HABs are caused by microscopic algae — tiny plants in the ocean — that grow out of control. As they bloom, they produce powerful toxins that kill fish and make shellfish dangerous to eat. In this episode, we take a look at three stories about how NOAA is addressing this serious problem.

Educational Gaming (Episode 38)

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 09:32:52 -0400

Join us for a talk with one of the key people behind 'WaterLife: Where the River Meets the Sea,' NOAA's first major foray into the world of educational gaming.

World Maritime Day 2009 (Episode 37)

Fri, 16 Oct 2009 08:59:01 -0400

In recognition of World Maritime Day, celebrated in the U.S. on Oct. 16, we're joined by the director of NOAA’s Coast Survey to talk about nautical charts and the maritime transportation system. Want to know what nautical charts have to do with Thomas Jefferson, mine sweepers, and the stuff you buy in a big box store? Just how big are some of the ships plying our waterways these days? What effect might rising sea levels have on the future of shipping? Find out in this special edition of Making Waves.

Powerful Fish-Killing Toxin May Offer Human Health Benefits (Episode 36)

Wed, 30 Sep 2009 09:31:05 -0400

Could a deadly toxic chemical produced by Euglena Sanguinea, a type of algae known for well over a century -- algae that you may have even seen before under a microscope in your High School biology class -- someday be used to treat cancer?

Battle of the Atlantic Expedition; New Gulf Marine Sanctuary Report (Episode 35)

Wed, 16 Sep 2009 11:28:01 -0400

Battle of the Atlantic Expedition:
NOAA leads an underwater archeology project to find World War II shipwrecks off the coast of North Carolina.

New Gulf Marine Sanctuary Report:
A new report finds that the coral reefs in Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary are doing quite well, but are at risk of future threats.

High-Water Mystery; nowCOAST; Wetlands Restoration (Episode 34)

Wed, 2 Sep 2009 11:20:12 -0400

A High Tide Mystery off the Atlantic Coast:
NOAA's Tides and Currents office is investigating the causes behind an unusually high tide in June that stretched from Maine to Florida.

nowCOAST:
An online interactive map from NOAA's Office of Coast Survey provides an amazing amount of near real-time weather forecasts and ocean surface observations for all of the U.S.

Texas Wetlands Restoration Project Completed:
NOAA's Damage Assessment, Remediation and Restoration Program just completed shepherding a major coastal restoration project -- over 2,500 acres of wetlands -- near Port Arthur, Texas.

Hydropalooza (Episode 33)

Fri, 14 Aug 2009 11:14:47 -0400

In this episode, we head north to Kachemak Bay, Alaska, for Hydropalooza 2009. No, this isn't a rock concert on the water, and you can't get a T-shirt, but for the people up in Alaska taking part in Hydropalooza this month, it's like a festival--a festival of data collection in the Bay.

Gulf Dead Zone Size Measured; NOAA Funding Helps Manage New England Red Tide (Episode 32)

Wed, 5 Aug 2009 08:15:19 -0400

2009 Gulf of Mexico Dead Zone Size Measured:
The size of the dead zone in the Gulf of Mexico is slightly smaller than expected this year, but it's still going to be severe.

NOAA Funding Helps Manage New England Red Tide:
NOAA provides emergency funding to support sampling, mapping, and forecasting of a massive red tide in New England.

Ocean for Life (Episode 31)

Wed, 22 Jul 2009 08:32:38 -0400

A new program called Ocean for Life is bringing together students from around the world to help bridge cultural divides through ocean science. We talk with the NOAA coordinator for Ocean for Life to learn more.

Preparing for the Arctic Future; NGS Positioning Activities Worth Billions (Episode 30)

Wed, 8 Jul 2009 09:42:18 -0400

Preparing for the Arctic Future:
Within the next two decades, the Arctic Ocean is expected to be free of ice in the summer. That means lots of ship traffic, and lots of ship traffic means the potential for lots of accidents and oil spills.

Positioning Activities Worth $2.4 Billion Annually:
A new study shows that the economic value of services provided by NOS’s National Geodetic Service is in the range of billions of dollars.

NOAA Restoration Day 2009 (Episode 29)

Wed, 24 Jun 2009 09:07:39 -0400

This week, we travel north of Baltimore to Otter Point Creek to join up with scores of NOAA volunteers gathered for NOAA Restoration Day. Over the past six years, Restoration Day has grown to become one of the largest federal employee-sponsored environmental stewardship events in the Chesapeake Bay watershed. Podcast guests include Restoration Day event organizer, park manager at Otter Point Creek's Anita C. Leight Estuary Center, the deputy secretary of Maryland's Department of Natural Resources, and the deputy director of the NOAA Chesapeake Bay office.

Interview with Marine Life Artist Wyland on New FOCUS Campaign (Episode 28)

Wed, 10 Jun 2009 09:03:58 -0400

Join us this week for a talk with environmental marine life artist Wyland about a new campaign to inspire kids with art and science. It's called FOCUS -- Forests, Oceans, Climate, and US -- and it kicks off on the National Mall in Washington, DC, on June 11. The five-year campaign is a partnership between the Wyland Foundation, NOAA, the National Aquarium, and the U.S. Forest Service.

National Ocean Service Hurricane Response (Episode 27)

Wed, 27 May 2009 08:52:05 -0400

Hurricane season starts June 1. Join us this week to take a look at the many roles and activities of the National Ocean Service when hurricanes threaten our coasts.

New PORTS Station Opens in Lake Charles, Louisiana (Episode 26)

Wed, 13 May 2009 07:49:38 -0400

Mariners can now get free real-time information on water and weather conditions for the Port of Lake Charles, La., from a new NOAA ocean observing system at the port called NOAA Physical Oceanographic Real-Time System (PORTS). We talk with the PORTS program manager to learn what this system is all about.

EstuaryLive; Where exactly is Four Corners? (Episode 25)

Wed, 29 Apr 2009 09:53:25 -0400

Join us this week to learn about EstuaryLive, an annual event that allows students to take a virtual field trip to estuaries around the country. And we hear from Chief Geodetic Surveyor Dave Doyle on the recent controversy surrounding the position of the Four Corners monument, located at the point where the states of Colorado, Utah, New Mexico, and Arizona meet up.

Bay Hydro II Joins the NOAA Fleet; Tropical Fungus Range Expands into Northern Waters (Episode 24)

Wed, 15 Apr 2009 18:40:04 -0400

Join us this week to learn about Bay Hydro II, the newest addition to NOAA's fleet of hydrographic research vessels. We also take a look at a new NOAA-led study that finds a type of tropical fungus called lobomycosis is now infecting bottlenose dolphins off the coast of North Carolina.

Ocean Glider Set to Attempt Atlantic Crossing (Episode 23)

Wed, 8 Apr 2009 08:30:44 -0400

Undergraduate students from Rutgers University are finalizing preparations to launch an ocean glider on a journey from New Jersey to Spain. If the craft completes the trip, it will be the first unmanned underwater vehicle to successfully cross the Atlantic. We talk to Zdenka Willis, program director for NOAA’s Integrated Ocean Observing System, about the upcoming mission and the future of ocean observing.

Flame Retardants Found in U.S. Coastal Ecosystems Nationwide (Episode 22)

Wed, 1 Apr 2009 08:00:33 -0400

A new NOAA report finds that man-made toxic chemicals used as flame retardants in consumer products are found in all U.S. coastal waters and the Great Lakes. The chemicals--Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers, or PBDEs--have generated international concern in recent years due to their global distribution and associated adverse environmental and human health effects. We talk with one of the authors of the report.

Caribbean Research Cruise; New Online Game for Kids (Episode 21)

Wed, 25 Mar 2009 09:53:18 -0400

Ocean service scientists are heading out to sea on the NOAA ship Nancy Foster for a two-week Caribbean mission to study coral reef ecosystems and fish habitats. And NOS launches a new Flash-based online game for kids called "Waterlife; Where the Rivers Meet the Sea."

Exxon Valdez Oil Spill 20th Anniversary Special (Episode 20)

Fri, 13 Mar 2009 11:10:58 -0400

Twenty years ago this month, nearly 11 million gallons of crude oil spilled into Alaska's Prince William Sound after the oil tanker Exxon Valdez grounded on a reef. It was and still is the single largest spill to ever occur along the coastal U.S. Join us in this special podcast as we talk with Dr. Alan Mearns, senior staff scientist with NOAA's Office of Response and Restoration. Mearns was involved in the initial spill response for the Exxon Valdez accident, and spent years leading a project that continues to monitor the long-term impact of the huge oil spill.

New Study Links Sea Foam to Unexplained Seabird Deaths and Strandings (Episode 19)

Fri, 6 Mar 2009 19:54:52 -0500

In 2007, hundreds of birds were found stranded or dead in California’s Monterey Bay, coated with an unknown yellow-green substance that was eating away at the protective covering on their feathers. A new study partly funded by NOAA reveals what happened. We talk with one of the researchers involved in the effort.

Shipwreck added to Historic Register; 15th Anniversary of Positioning Network (Episode 18)

Fri, 27 Feb 2009 12:36:29 -0500

An early 20th century shipwreck located in a NOAA National Marine Sanctuary is added to the National Register of Historic Places. And the National Geodetic Survey celebrates the 15th anniversary of the Continuously Operating Reference Station program.

NOAA lends hand for Hudson River airplane crash; West Coast algal bloom summit (Episode 17)

Fri, 20 Feb 2009 07:30:41 -0500

This week, we talk about NOAA’s role in the recent U.S. Airways airplane crash on the Hudson River near Manhattan. We then head west to learn why experts from NOAA, California, Oregon, and Washington State met last week to talk about harmful algal blooms, more commonly known as 'red tides.'

Antibiotic resistant illnesses and potential cures in the sea (Episode 16)

Fri, 13 Feb 2009 14:30:50 -0500

In this special edition, we're focusing on antibiotic resistance in the marine environment and potential new cures from the sea. We'll hear about three new studies presented at a NOAA-sponsored symposium at the annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science in Chicago.

Ocean in Google Earth; predicting cholera (Episode 15)

Fri, 6 Feb 2009 08:13:28 -0500

Users of Google Earth can now explore the depths of the ocean and discover NOAA information and images along their journey. And using ocean observations from satellites to predict the outbreak of cholera.

Invasive lionfish; rising sea levels (Episode 14)

Fri, 30 Jan 2009 12:36:01 -0500

A new report looks at effects of and solutions for sea-level rise on coastal areas. And the first reported invasive lionfish is captured in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary.

'Diving Deeper' podcast premier (Episode 13)

Fri, 23 Jan 2009 12:31:16 -0500

This week, we preview a new NOS podcast premiering on Jan. 26. It's called Diving Deeper. The new audio podcast will be coming out once every two weeks, and will feature interviews with NOS scientists and experts. We think you're going to like it.

New NGS director; NOS Web site update (Episode 12)

Fri, 16 Jan 2009 11:44:28 -0500

The new director of the National Geodetic Survey makes history. We'll tell you how. And we'll take a few minutes to chat about some new features about this Web site on this week's Making Waves.

Delaware River restoration; lobster trap debris (Episode 11)

Fri, 9 Jan 2009 11:40:03 -0500

This week, NOAA and partners announce a restoration plan for shoreline and habitats of the Delaware River damaged by a 2004 oil spill. The plan is now up for public comment. And we travel to the Florida Keys to find out why NOS researchers are studying lobster trap debris.

Year in review (Episode 10)

Wed, 31 Dec 2008 12:38:32 -0500

In this special New Years episode, we take a look back at some of the major NOS accomplishments of 2008. .

Santa and the NGS (Episode 9)

Tue, 23 Dec 2008 11:37:32 -0500

How does the National Ocean Service help Santa on his journey around the country? Tune in to this special holiday edition to find out.

Ocean acidification; smart coastal development (Episode 8)

Fri, 19 Dec 2008 10:48:48 -0500

A new study finds significant ocean acidification in the Caribbean, and may lead to a better understanding of how coral reefs will adapt to this harmful process. And find out what teams in coastal states around the nation are doing to help communities develop in a way that preserves water quality, protects natural areas, and improves quality of life.

Toxins in dolphins; coral jewelry (Episode 7)

Fri, 12 Dec 2008 10:44:59 -0500

Toxins from red tides are showing up in bottlenose dolphins in higher-than-expected amounts. We'll find out what's goin on. We'll also tell you why you should cross coral jewelry off of your shopping list this holiday season.

Marine Protected Areas, sanctuaries (Episode 6)

Fri, 5 Dec 2008 10:40:09 -0500

This week, we talk about a new national system of marine protected areas. Then we go to California to look at what three marine sanctuaries are up to there. The boundaries of Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, one of the three, just expanded to include a huge underwater mountain.

Thanksgiving Special (Episode 5)

Fri, 28 Nov 2008 10:36:02 -0500

What does the National Ocean Service have to do with your Thanksgiving dinner? We bring you the answer in this special holiday edition of Making Waves.

Coastal summit; harmful algal blooms; marine forensics (Episode 4)

Fri, 21 Nov 2008 10:26:41 -0500

This week, the head of the NOS traveled to Florida for the first-ever Coastal Cities Summit hosted by the International Ocean Institute. We also take a look at the devastating harmful algal bloom in New England. Finally, we talk about the latest case to come through the lab in the NOS Marine Forensics Program -- and we take a closer look at what this program is all about.

Mapping the Arctic sea floor; avoiding whales in Calif.; benthic maps (Episode 3)

Fri, 14 Nov 2008 10:14:56 -0500

This week, we bring you news about a recent expedition to map an unknown sea floor in the Arctic. Then we travel to California, where staff of the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary work to prevent ships from striking blue whales in the Santa Barbara Channel. Finally, we head down to Texas to talk about a new digital map of underwater vegetation in the Coastal Bend region near Corpus Christi.

EcoZone initiative; record year for spill clean-up; height modernization (Episode 2)

Thu, 6 Nov 2008 02:57:00 -0500

This week, we talk about NOAA's role in a new public-private partnership called the EcoZone® Green Schools Initiative. Then we look at the busiest year on record for the NOS Office of Response and Restoration, the NOAA office that responds to oil and chemical spills around the nation. Finally, we talk about a National Geodetic Survey effort to revolutionize the measurement of height by measuring gravity around the country. We wrap up the episode with a closer look at how gravity and height are related.

Tracking sea turtles with sonar; coral bleaching (Episode 1)

troy.kitch@noaa.gov — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 13:10:43 -0500

This week we bring you research on the use of sonar to track threatened sea turtles, NOAA's new Ocean Today Kiosk, and recent upgrades to the space-based global coral bleaching monitoring network. We end the show with a look at some of the things reef managers and scientists can do to protect a reef when the ocean overheats.