Weekly news from NOAA's National Ocean Service. http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/news/weeklynews/welcome.html http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Thu, 19 Nov 2009 11:38:39 -0500 Thu, 19 Nov 2009 11:38:39 -0500 FeedForAll v2.0 (2.0.2.9) http://www.feedforall.com On two separate missions in September and October, the NOAA Ship Oscar Elton Sette set sail from Honolulu, Hawaii, to scour, somewhat literally, portions of the vast and remote Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/news/features/nov09/nwhimd.html nos.info@noaa.gov 19F49386-1200-47BE-8BB6-B5897CBB2D49 Wed, 18 Nov 2009 11:37:26 -0500 MEET: Kathryn Simmons, physical scientist with the Office of Coast Survey. http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/profiles/nov09/simmons.html nos.info@noaa.gov D0DD41CA-3096-437A-B0C2-1D4CA73B869E Tue, 17 Nov 2009 09:48:09 -0500 On October 30, the T/V Dubai Star suffered a rupture in one of its fuel lines, spilling 400-800 gallons of intermediate fuel oil into the waters of southern San Francisco Bay. NOS was on the scene with the U.S. Coast Guard and state and local responders, working to minimize impacts from the spill and moving towards cleanup and restoration activities. http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/news/weeklynews/nov09/dubaistar.html nos.info@noaa.gov 9B5FF157-CC70-4858-B594-67FB34EFAC7C Mon, 16 Nov 2009 09:31:08 -0500 NOAA Tide Predictions is a new web-based tool that provides free, user-friendly access to official U.S. tide predictions for nearly 3,000 locations around the nation. Whether you are a professional mariner or a casual boater, you can take advantage of the application to get customized, reliable, and accurate tide predictions. http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/news/weeklynews/nov09/tidesonline.html nos.info@noaa.gov F94B9BC6-FD84-4B9E-A4DC-444081151E09 Mon, 9 Nov 2009 08:31:54 -0500 MEET: Elisa Chae, legislative specialist with the Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management. http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/profiles/nov09/chae.html nos.info@noaa.gov F8D7394A-6C16-4CC6-B3AE-388EF0427D77 Tue, 3 Nov 2009 12:48:37 -0500 NOAA's Coastal Georgia Dolphin Health Assessment examines the beloved bottlenose for clues to the wellness of their underwater world. http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/news/features/oct09/dolphins.html nos.info@noaa.gov 3A18A2A2-6EA8-4A26-9087-09CB6568669B Tue, 27 Oct 2009 12:08:01 -0400 On October 19, 2009, NOAA joined Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, and other supporting partners as the states announced an agreement to work together to better manage and protect ocean and coastal resources, ensure regional economic sustainability, and respond to disasters such as hurricanes. http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/news/weeklynews/oct09/satlall.html nos.info@noaa.gov 8F7CDC4F-ABBD-48D0-B383-3507244E6288 Mon, 26 Oct 2009 13:22:35 -0400 MEET: Mike Shelby, information technology specialist with the National Ocean Service Communications and Education Division. http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/profiles/oct09/shelby.html nos.info@noaa.gov 56BC36B9-BAFF-4445-97C9-647D58394B0F Fri, 23 Oct 2009 10:01:36 -0400 A new ocean observing system on the lower Mississippi River serves up free real-time water and weather conditions for mariners ranging from ship captains to pleasure boaters. http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/news/weeklynews/oct09/ports.html nos.info@noaa.gov 2872B45A-877C-49DD-84E7-18F0405F95BE Wed, 21 Oct 2009 15:06:21 -0400 With the release of a new research strategy, NOAA and partners set the stage for future studies about unique coral ecosystems found in deeper tropical waters around the world. http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/news/weeklynews/oct09/mesophotic.html nos.info@noaa.gov 55486951-8101-406F-A911-BF45A24F06D9 Mon, 19 Oct 2009 13:38:26 -0400 According to a new study by NOAA and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), a powerful fish-killing toxin produced by a type of freshwater algae called Euglena sanguinea could also have cancer-killing properties. http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/news/weeklynews/oct09/fishtox.html nos.info@noaa.gov 87468B84-676B-4368-BCB1-0EE3BE9AA073 Wed, 14 Oct 2009 09:49:33 -0400 Over the summer, 20 budding biologists, ranging from ages five to 14, joined NOAA Fisheries scientists for a week-long camp to learn about harmful algal blooms. http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/news/features/oct09/habcamp.html nos.info@noaa.gov 4BFB2CF8-B077-422D-82EC-DF8B568F4462 Tue, 13 Oct 2009 14:28:29 -0400 MEET: Hansje Gold-Krueck, Human Dimensions Specialist with The Baldwin Group, NOAA Coastal Services Center. http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/profiles/oct09/goldkrueck.html nos.info@noaa.gov EA3DE8C5-777C-4EE1-AB24-2DF2C1F63F3F Fri, 9 Oct 2009 10:27:40 -0400 The Coastal Storms Program is a nationwide effort led by NOAA to reduce loss of life and negative impacts on coastal property and the environment caused by coastal storms. http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/news/features/oct09/csp.html nos.info@noaa.gov 3FB35D93-1BF8-49A1-BD03-98DF121EFF92 Tue, 6 Oct 2009 11:24:57 -0400 Ocean observation data proved critical in the days and weeks following a tragic mid-air collision above the Hudson River. http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/news/weeklynews/sept09/iooshud.html nos.info@noaa.gov A8111974-84D8-4EC9-8825-A1EAD4882152 Mon, 28 Sep 2009 09:57:05 -0400 NOAA, along with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the International City/County Management Association, and Rhode Island Sea Grant, released a guide to bring smart growth to coastal and waterfront communities. http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/news/weeklynews/sept09/smrtgro.html nos.info@noaa.gov 3A649250-469C-4E5B-94DD-A41FB134673A Thu, 24 Sep 2009 09:49:13 -0400 A NOAA report finds that contaminant levels in the vicinity of a fleet of over 70 aging ships moored in Suisun Bay, California, are similar to those found in other parts of San Francisco Bay. http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/news/features/sept09/suisun.html nos.info@noaa.gov 1091C0C3-1E12-4755-956A-C126539B2FF0 Wed, 23 Sep 2009 11:48:56 -0400 MEET: Mike Aslaksen, Remote Sensing Division Chief, National Geodetic Survey. http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/profiles/sep09/aslaksen.html nos.info@noaa.gov EF0BC31C-173D-4889-A206-8430952F5F28 Mon, 21 Sep 2009 15:22:29 -0400 On September 12, at the Bladensburg Waterfront Park in Washington, DC, NOAA, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Howard University, the Anacostia Watershed Society, and others joined forces to clean up the Anacostia River and its watershed. http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/news/weeklynews/sept09/anacostia.html nos.info@noaa.gov A4B43457-45C2-4C23-845F-4370CED44EC8 Thu, 17 Sep 2009 15:52:05 -0400 MEET: Charles "Charly" Alexander, Operations Division Chief, NOAA Integrated Ocean Observing System Program. http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/profiles/sep09/alexander.html nos.info@noaa.gov A8039FBC-CC0C-49C9-BF43-F4916812727C Fri, 11 Sep 2009 10:50:25 -0400 n June and July, NOAA scientists discovered elevated sea levels along the entire U.S. East Coast. After observing water levels to 0.15 to 0.61 meters (six inches to two feet) higher than originally predicted, NOAA scientists from the Center for Operational Oceanographic Products and Services (CO-OPS) began analyzing data from select tide stations and buoys from Maine to Florida. http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/news/weeklynews/sept09/ecsealevel.html nos.info@noaa.gov 7C83A7D8-0C53-4818-899D-2E812548FD87 Tue, 8 Sep 2009 11:29:33 -0400 MEET: Lisa DiPinto, Southeast Region Branch Chief for the Assessment and Restoration Division of the Office of Response and Restoration. http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/profiles/sep09/dipinto.html nos.info@noaa.gov F7BE7DD8-94FB-4A24-9924-536C76CF1725 Thu, 3 Sep 2009 17:19:15 -0400 During the 2005 hurricane season, Hurricanes Katrina and Rita inflicted severe damage on the Gulf of Mexico coastal region and deposited huge amounts of debris over large areas of the Gulf coast. http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/news/features/sept09/gommdp.html nos.info@noaa.gov FDB37356-C022-40F7-AFD9-1BC224B2D228 Thu, 3 Sep 2009 10:22:40 -0400 In July and August, NOAA’s Office of National Marine Sanctuaries (ONMS) sponsored the 2009 Ocean for Life program, which gathers high school students from Western and Middle Eastern nations to promote cultural understanding through ocean science. http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/news/weeklynews/aug09/ofl2.html nos.info@noaa.gov 0D336B58-C805-48F2-836B-127E8F9A2F0A Mon, 31 Aug 2009 11:28:54 -0400 Coral bleaching is associated with a variety of stresses, especially increased ocean temperatures. This causes the coral to expel symbiotic micro-algae living in their tissues - algae that provide corals with food. http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/news/weeklynews/aug09/coralbleach.html nos.info@noaa.gov E62F8A3A-E84A-4CE8-9939-02A491AB2661 Fri, 28 Aug 2009 11:39:44 -0400 MEET: Neil Weston, Physicist with the National Geodetic Survey. http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/profiles/aug09/weston.html nos.info@noaa.gov 490B7849-7C90-4951-8FA2-016323A9113F Tue, 25 Aug 2009 15:12:34 -0400 Local bridge and highway improvements are not the only transportation projects to benefit from stimulus funds. As part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA), the Office of Coast Survey is allocating $40 million for mapping the sea floor, collecting data in critical coastal areas, and updating nautical charts. http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/news/weeklynews/aug09/ocsarra.html nos.info@noaa.gov 9C1236CB-B910-499E-A1C6-EF7615A1D555 Thu, 20 Aug 2009 14:58:09 -0400 MEET: David Elliot, Navigation Manager-Southeast Region with the Office of Coast Survey. http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/profiles/aug09/elliot.html nos.info@noaa.gov A7885FDB-C01A-42FB-8188-9FF394574F6A Thu, 20 Aug 2009 10:58:45 -0400 NOAA ships and scientists, along with multiple partner organizations, have returned to Kachemak Bay, Alaska, for the second field season of hydrographic data collection. The goal of the project, called ‘Hydropalooza,’ is to develop the most detailed sea floor and coastline maps ever generated for this area. http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/news/weeklynews/aug09/hydropal.html nos.info@noaa.gov AEA35DEF-8AC7-4DA8-A160-86F3B81587C4 Mon, 17 Aug 2009 11:41:06 -0400 MEET: Billy Sweet, Oceanographer for the Center for Operational Oceanographic Products and Services. http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/profiles/aug09/sweet.html nos.info@noaa.gov F39A2016-F1CE-4FF6-AA65-F48A88D5E90A Fri, 14 Aug 2009 09:08:13 -0400 NOS recently released a report detailing a comprehensive study of the fish communities and habitats of the Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary, located off the coasts of Texas and Louisiana. http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/news/weeklynews/aug09/fgbreport.html nos.info@noaa.gov 4A750735-36FE-4208-B7DD-F82513518555 Thu, 13 Aug 2009 14:35:19 -0400 MEET: Captain Michele Finn, Chief of Staff for the National Ocean Service. http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/profiles/aug09/finn.html nos.info@noaa.gov 10F7BB99-D144-4BE6-B13C-7A4C671DE5A2 Wed, 12 Aug 2009 15:36:00 -0400 MEET: Ray Clark, Contract Specialist for the NOAA Coastal Services Center. http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/profiles/aug09/clark.html nos.info@noaa.gov AB356EC8-141C-4307-856A-7B71981023B1 Tue, 11 Aug 2009 14:25:08 -0400 On August 7, NOAA's Office of Coast Survey, in partnership with the NOAA-University of New Hampshire Joint Hydrographic Center and several other federal and Canadian partners, set sail on its fifth expedition to the Arctic Ocean to map the North American extended continental shelf. http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/news/weeklynews/aug09/arcticmap.html nos.info@noaa.gov 4A52EA74-5F67-46AA-8D91-94685E38D279 Mon, 10 Aug 2009 10:43:16 -0400 For nearly a decade, the National Ocean Service has partnered with the historic town of Bluffton, South Carolina, to protect its water quality in some innovative ways. http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/news/features/aug09/bluffton.html nos.info@noaa.gov 02B7E137-B551-4C32-88EA-8229A9B55BFB Tue, 4 Aug 2009 14:21:05 -0400 To safely transit marine highways that get busier with each passing year, mariners need the most accurate and up-to-date information they can find. Increasingly, they are finding that information on the nowCOAST Web site. http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/news/features/july09/nowcoast.html nos.info@noaa.gov D7EEC697-F25A-4A08-AB61-4F8D1497588D Tue, 28 Jul 2009 14:29:15 -0400 Thirteen staff from the Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management’s Estuarine Reserves Division (ERD) recently got hands-on experience with nesting ospreys when they accompanied naturalist Greg Kearns as he banded some of the season’s newly hatched chicks in the Jug Bay component of the Chesapeake Bay Maryland National Estuarine Research Reserve. http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/news/weeklynews/july09/osprey.html nos.info@noaa.gov 1D480F47-95C9-4777-92CF-EED38D4C6870 Fri, 24 Jul 2009 12:52:04 -0400 On June 11, hundreds of children from Washington, DC, descended on the National Mall to learn about the importance of protecting our nation’s watersheds through art. http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/news/weeklynews/june09/focus.html nos.info@noaa.gov AC49D07B-E2A1-41A1-9CCB-CCAB507213D6 Fri, 17 Jul 2009 09:41:40 -0400 Ten years ago, a small plane piloted by the son of former U.S. President John F. Kennedy crashed into the Atlantic Ocean in an accident that drew attention from all around the world. http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/news/weeklynews/july09/jfkjr.html nos.info@noaa.gov 0A35678D-AC16-4BED-A1A3-7B669880C0C7 Thu, 16 Jul 2009 16:18:09 -0400 “Treat the Earth well; it was not given to you by your parents, it was loaned to you by your children.” These words were delivered by NOS Assistant Administrator John H. Dunnigan at the 11th Annual Waterkeeper Alliance Conference. http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/news/weeklynews/july09/waterkeeper.html nos.info@noaa.gov 09D80074-0102-4F61-8441-1D11428EF3BA Mon, 13 Jul 2009 15:34:07 -0400 At the end of June, two NOAA employees made their annual trek to Prince William Sound, Alaska, for the 20th year in a row. Alan Mearns, a Seattle-based scientist at NOAA’s Office of Response and Restoration, and John Whitney, NOAA’s Scientific Support Coordinator for Alaska, conducted the 20th annual survey of the western portion of the sound, where the Exxon Valdez tanker made infamous environmental history on March 24, 1989. http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/news/features/july09/mearnsrock.html nos.info@noaa.gov 83CCA407-5653-44D5-8B0B-A0855C6E70FA Fri, 10 Jul 2009 08:42:59 -0400 The decline and loss of coral reefs has significant social, cultural, economic, and ecological impacts on people and communities in the U.S. and around the world. However, with effective leadership and management, healthy, resilient reef ecosystems can continue to provide these valuable services to current and future generations. http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/news/weeklynews/july09/coralstrat.html nos.info@noaa.gov 99FD91DA-44B8-4AF2-88C1-02611385D8A3 Thu, 9 Jul 2009 15:04:31 -0400 Historic current survey data are now available online, providing users with faster, friendlier, and easier access to historical current information. http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/news/weeklynews/july09/histcurrdata.html nos.info@noaa.gov E69089A9-8B65-4841-BA2B-953890B89686 Mon, 6 Jul 2009 13:37:53 -0400 NOAA's "air gap" technology received the ultimate test on the morning of June 27. http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/news/weeklynews/july09/ussny.html nos.info@noaa.gov 446E61C0-CCC2-417D-99E4-9F9313A99193 Thu, 2 Jul 2009 13:14:43 -0400 The Center for Operational Oceanographic Products and Services (CO-OPS) invites customers to participate in an American Customer Satisfaction Index Survey. Your participation will help CO-OPS improve its water level and tidal current products and customer services. http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/news/weeklynews/june09/coopssurvey.html nos.info@noaa.gov A20040A0-6C92-4EEF-8060-9D7BB14C0104 Tue, 30 Jun 2009 00:50:39 -0400 A creek, a causeway, and a salt marsh on Sapelo Island, Georgia – the state’s fourth-largest barrier island and one of its most pristine – are revealing much to scientists, policy makers, and regulatory authorities about salt-marsh ecology. http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/news/features/june09/sapelo.html nos.info@noaa.gov 4B87A729-EEBB-418B-A830-7DB018C338DE Tue, 30 Jun 2009 09:29:12 -0400 On June 18, scores of NOAA employees and partners participated in the sixth annual NOAA Restoration Day at sites in Maryland and Virginia. http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/news/weeklynews/june09/restorationday.html nos.info@noaa.gov 7BD58A7D-B6C1-47DD-95AB-AC9EDD9F7947 Wed, 24 Jun 2009 10:35:16 -0400 Many of metropolitan San Francisco’s eight million people are not aware that NOAA’s Gulf of the Farallones National Marine Sanctuary surrounds a unique island chain and wildly beautiful mainland shores just beyond the Golden Gate. http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/news/features/jun09/gfnms.html nos.info@noaa.gov DD91BABF-937C-4D73-B6CE-50D3BEAA61CF Fri, 19 Jun 2009 14:01:56 -0400 For over 200 years, NOAA's National Geodetic Survey (NGS) has defined and managed the National Spatial Reference System (NSRS). This coordinate system defines latitude, longitude, height, scale, gravity, orientation, and shoreline throughout the United States. http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/news/weeklynews/june09/nsrsbenefits.html nos.info@noaa.gov C72CB3E8-A194-4CCD-AC4D-BC73F7FB4293 Tue, 16 Jun 2009 09:17:35 -0400 For 12 years now, Louis Lapine, PhD, has been chief of the South Carolina Geodetic Survey (SCGS). This agency establishes horizontal and vertical geodetic control points throughout the state to allow land and land-related items to be referenced to the national coordinate system maintained by NOAA's National Geodetic Survey. http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/news/features/jun09/lapine.html nos.info@noaa.gov 36D73252-9A39-4732-AF65-440D06D18E15 Thu, 11 Jun 2009 14:02:42 -0400 The Marine Forensics Program of the National Ocean Service is focused on one goal - supporting enforcement of our nation's laws which protect valuable fisheries resources, marine mammals, and endangered species. It is one of the only laboratories in the country focused on forensic analysis of marine species. http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/news/weeklynews/june09/marineforen.html nos.info@noaa.gov 469FF411-DDBF-4C9C-8364-C5A77B53B33B Tue, 9 Jun 2009 15:23:20 -0400 The nooks and crannies, bumps and ledges of the reefs within Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary (GRNMS) provide plenty of places for critters to latch on to and for fish to hide. Scientists from the National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science and GRNMS have now identified connections between these fish communities and the sea-floor features of the sanctuary. http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/news/weeklynews/june09/grnmsfish.html nos.info@noaa.gov 39119569-3390-4298-B2B2-6CFA2DEAC575 Fri, 5 Jun 2009 14:50:49 -0400 Cannes, Sundance, Toronto -- auteurs and aficionados alike flock to these places each year to view what’s new in feature and documentary filmmaking. But you probably don't know that every summer in Savannah, Georgia, the nearby Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary (NMS) hosts its own Ocean Film Festival, a wildly popular affair that brings the ocean realm to the big screen for all to see and marvel at. http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/news/weeklynews/june09/blueocean.html nos.info@noaa.gov 81FF1825-577F-4ADF-9225-8F84E7BB89D1 Wed, 3 Jun 2009 11:44:06 -0400 Within the next two decades, scientists estimate that the Arctic Ocean will be free of multi-year ice in the summer. While many people around the world are thinking about the economic opportunities that may open up as the ice thaws, experts from the NOS Office of Response and Restoration are now working out strategies to deal with the increased likelihood of oil spills in this remote region. http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/news/features/jun09/arctic.html nos.info@noaa.gov 685BA77F-049A-43C3-BC22-20039F8ED810 Mon, 1 Jun 2009 08:58:05 -0400 On May 22, 2009, over 450 members from Virginia's maritime community and NOAA came together in Norfolk's brand new cruise terminal to celebrate the 76th annual National Maritime Day celebration. http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/news/weeklynews/may09/maritimeday09.html nos.info@noaa.gov 39BD4E58-491E-438B-9AAB-5D3013DF558F Fri, 29 May 2009 07:28:48 -0400 NOAA's National Geodetic Survey (NGS) develops and maintains a national system of positioning data needed for a range of applications, from navigation to mapping and construction. NGS's activities set the standards for other states to build their own statewide positioning networks. South Carolina is one state that is successfully pushing the limits of global positioning. http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/news/features/may09/scgs.html nos.info@noaa.gov 90ED78FD-305A-43CA-BAA0-5FC671766F69 Thu, 28 May 2009 10:17:45 -0400 A hurricane has just ravaged the coast. Homes are damaged or destroyed. Family members are searching for loved ones. Ports are closed due to unknown hazards in surrounding waterways. Damaged vessels and chemical containers are leaking potentially hazardous material into the water. And in the background, NOS has sprung in to action, working to get things moving again...responding in the aftermath of the storm. http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/news/features/may09/hurriresponse.html nos.info@noaa.gov 7B77E3C0-7C20-4B4B-AAC8-547AEC62A3B0 Tue, 26 May 2009 09:04:15 -0400 States and communities struggling with how to prepare for climate change have a new place to turn for answers--their peers. http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/news/weeklynews/may09/climatesite.html nos.info@noaa.gov 098B3021-5F30-4C62-822A-14817948BC31 Fri, 15 May 2009 10:48:15 -0400 A new set of ocean observing data is expected to improve search and rescue efforts along the coasts of the U.S. Mid-Atlantic region. http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/news/weeklynews/may09/coastguard.html nos.info@noaa.gov A8AC0E1C-4185-4763-9326-06E41C13692F Thu, 14 May 2009 12:21:54 -0400 A Continuously Operating Reference Station (CORS) now sits next to one of the country’s longest standing tide gauges at Battery Park in New York City, New York. http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/news/weeklynews/may09/batterypark.html nos.info@noaa.gov 243ED9D9-668C-4565-BAF2-8B7C87DF23CA Tue, 12 May 2009 11:25:18 -0400 NOS staff recently met with officials in Belize to gain government endorsement of a Caribbean pilot project to reduce nutrient and sediment pollution in coastal areas. This exchange contributes to an ongoing partnership between NOAA and the U.N. Environment Program’s Global Program of Action to reduce land-based sources of pollution to the marine environment. http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/news/weeklynews/may09/belize.html nos.info@noaa.gov 6CD6EED3-DFF6-4CFE-9FC6-064628A22D24 Fri, 8 May 2009 12:33:14 -0400 The U.S. Global Ocean Ecosystems Dynamics (GLOBEC) program is making it possible for today's graduate students to learn about cutting-edge climate change research that will prepare them for careers in this growing scientific field. [FEATURE] http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/news/features/may09/globec.html nos.info@noaa.gov BA73BFBC-810B-4015-B902-568E36CA3633 Thu, 7 May 2009 11:55:16 -0400 On April 22, the National Marine Protected Areas (MPA) Center, together with the Department of the Interior, announced the admission of 225 existing federal, state, and territorial MPAs into the National System of Marine Protected Areas. http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/news/weeklynews/may09/mpalist.html nos.info@noaa.gov D5C09AC1-006C-4E2C-A14A-851DFF43CF1A Mon, 4 May 2009 11:04:55 -0400 NOAA recently opened a new Sanctuary Learning Center for scientists and the public at the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary in Kihei, Maui. http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/news/weeklynews/may09/hawaii.html nos.info@noaa.gov 23F3A57D-8E11-47E3-BC14-6446419C1CE0 Fri, 1 May 2009 11:03:01 -0400 Mariners are once again able to travel the 74.5 miles along the St. Marys River between Lake Superior and Lake Huron via the Soo Locks. The locks were recently reopened following closure during the long, cold winter months. And, thanks to the water-level data delivered by the NOAA Physical Oceanographic Real-Time System (PORTS®), mariners have the information needed to help them safely navigate their way. http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/news/weeklynews/apr09/soolocks.html nos.info@noaa.gov 567FF900-D7F8-4B37-A80D-3061E1B31D02 Mon, 20 Apr 2009 14:29:40 -0400 A new NOAA-led study documents the first cases of lobomycosis in bottlenose dolphins in North Carolina. This fungal skin infection is usually associated with warmer tropical waters. Researchers are now working to determine how factors like water temperature, salinity and coastal land-use might be influencing the types, prevalence and severity of these type of infections. http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/news/weeklynews/apr09/lobomycosis.html nos.info@noaa.gov EADD72C2-578C-4DC6-9233-3EDC3A838C69 Thu, 16 Apr 2009 09:10:03 -0400 On April 15, NOAA dedicated a new state-of-the-art research vessel, R/V Bay Hydro II, which will collect oceanographic data in the Chesapeake Bay region critical to safe navigation and environmental protection. http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/news/weeklynews/apr09/bayhydro.html nos.info@noaa.gov 78CC229F-D66E-4D71-9BF0-0008F043604C Wed, 15 Apr 2009 15:43:03 -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. http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/news/weeklynews/apr09/glider.html nos.info@noaa.gov B90BBD02-CD07-417A-94ED-B5E2AC154B36 Wed, 8 Apr 2009 07:43:02 -0400 Simulated visual images can be much more effective than charts and graphs in drawing attention to the potential impacts of coastal development and policy changes. But until recently, many coastal resource managers lacked the skills, resources, and time to create effective visualizations with the software they had available. http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/news/weeklynews/apr09/canvis.html nos.info@noaa.gov B1829221-6209-4FAE-A3FF-8D09FF07E87C Mon, 6 Apr 2009 11:50:15 -0400 A NOAA report released on April 1 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. http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/news/weeklynews/apr09/pbde.html nos.info@noaa.gov BD225281-46FF-49F6-BF57-CCC99BEC91F3 Wed, 1 Apr 2009 09:04:43 -0400 The Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009 signed into law by President Barack Obama on March 30 contains several provisions related to ocean and coastal research, monitoring, and conservation--central responsibilities of NOS. We have a rundown of the highlights. http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/news/weeklynews/mar09/omnibusact.html nos.info@noaa.gov FB536220-D278-489E-A58F-459C8254DF9E Tue, 31 Mar 2009 08:03:45 -0400 From March 23 through April 3, NOS scientists will embark on a scientific mission to study the coral reefs and fish habitats off the coast of Vieques, Puerto Rico. http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/news/weeklynews/mar09/caribcruise.html nos.info@noaa.gov 8B7729C4-C60E-42BB-8CBB-4A8F52E63E4C Thu, 26 Mar 2009 08:15:57 -0400 Want to learn about estuaries and the threats that endanger them AND have some fun? Check out NOS’s new educational online game: "WaterLife: Where Rivers Meet the Sea." http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/news/weeklynews/mar09/estuariesgame.html nos.info@noaa.gov C4B65F13-FE78-420F-AE39-C79718793237 Wed, 18 Mar 2009 08:10:41 -0400 Twenty years ago this month, the Exxon Valdez spilled 11 million gallons of oil into Alaska's Prince William Sound. We've put together a collection of historical images, a special podcast, and key links to explore the history and legacy of the largest spill to ever occur along our nation's coast. http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/news/weeklynews/mar09/exxonvaldez.html nos.info@noaa.gov 5F51C224-E406-4809-9BAE-6EFBB5C3AB7A Fri, 13 Mar 2009 08:07:18 -0400 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. http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/news/weeklynews/mar09/algalfoam.html nos.info@noaa.gov AA379F43-8435-46E4-B6C2-83B6E7B25FE6 Thu, 5 Mar 2009 11:24:29 -0500 The National Geodetic Survey is celebrating the 15th anniversary of the Continuously Operating Reference Station (CORS) program. This program helps scientists and others monitor our ever changing planet by providing highly accurate positioning information. http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/news/weeklynews/feb09/cors.html nos.info@noaa.gov C8EB63B8-1852-4F18-9C51-49CB9AA1FEFB Mon, 23 Feb 2009 13:43:57 -0500 Experts from NOAA joined a group of eighty scientists, managers, and industry representatives from California, Oregon, and Washington at the first West Coast Regional Harmful Algal Bloom (HAB) Summit in Portland, Oregon, February 10-12. At the meeting, the representatives endorsed a regional harmful algal bloom (HAB) monitoring, alert and response network and forecasting system. http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/news/weeklynews/feb09/habsummit.html nos.web@noaa.gov 2BA3BD4E-CC53-4B87-AFD9-2B07B8901922 Wed, 18 Feb 2009 12:26:39 -0500 At 3:31 PM on January 15, 2009, U.S. Airways Flight 1549, an Airbus A320 commercial passenger plane, made an emergency water landing on the Hudson River, on the West Side of Manhattan in New York City. The National Ocean Service was at the ready, supporting passenger rescue, assessing risk of contamination to the environment, and helping to survey the cold and icy river for the wreckage of the plane. http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/news/weeklynews/feb09/hudson.html nos.web@noaa.gov 70EC9D2E-EB15-44FD-8FA2-437C1FCC1DBD Wed, 4 Feb 2009 08:16:49 -0500 Beginning Feb. 2, visitors to Google Earth can also explore the depths of the ocean and discover NOAA information and images along their journey. This extension of the popular online Earth exploration tool also displays information such as weather patterns, currents, temperatures, shipwrecks, coral reefs, and algal blooms. http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/news/weeklynews/feb09/googleocean.html nos.web@noaa.gov 602493C0-4DFA-43BD-A4D1-20BC9CFAA8DA-7034-00001E27A44DB130-FFA Mon, 2 Feb 2009 16:43:22 -0500 The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, in collaboration with NOAA and U.S. Geological Survey, recently released a report that discusses the impacts of sea-level rise on the coast, coastal communities, and the habitats and species that depend on coastal areas, with a focus on the eight coastal states from New York to North Carolina. http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/news/weeklynews/jan09/sealevelrisereport.html nos.web@noaa.gov 7F56FE78-10CD-43E9-B3A3-A462F36D9734-7034-00001E220EA4C002-FFA Fri, 30 Jan 2009 16:41:57 -0500 On January 7, rapid responders removed the first reported invasive lionfish from the waters of the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary within 24 hours of notification. This marks the first arrival of lionfish into the Florida Keys since the species became established in U.S. waters in 2000. http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/news/weeklynews/jan09/colwell.html nos.web@noaa.gov F4774DA6-16DA-4677-8A4A-389FF800BF74-7034-00001E1CCEA588DF-FFA Mon, 26 Jan 2009 16:41:31 -0500 Dr. Rita Colwell, a distinguished scholar from the NOAA Oceans and Human Health Initiative (OHHI), recently developed a new way to use ocean observation tools to predict cholera outbreaks. http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/news/weeklynews/jan09/colwell.html nos.web@noaa.gov 3CDFAC33-28CB-4D42-8E08-A2BB35877B12-7034-00001E15EF3F31EC-FFA Wed, 21 Jan 2009 16:41:08 -0500 Juliana P. Blackwell has been named the new director of NOAA’s Office of National Geodetic Survey (NGS). As the first woman to head the nation’s oldest federal science agency, Blackwell will have a big job: overseeing management of the nation’s spatial reference system. http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/news/weeklynews/jan09/blackwell.html nos.web@noaa.gov 408957A2-4FCB-425F-A8CF-20F14C16AE94-7034-00001E0EB16523F6-FFA Mon, 19 Jan 2009 16:40:36 -0500 NOAA, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the states of Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware are seeking public comment on a restoration plan to repair and improve shoreline and habitats of the Delaware River damaged by a ship oil spill in 2004. http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/news/weeklynews/jan09/athos.html nos.web@noaa.gov F195A68D-AFEF-4975-9C3A-A3B54294C57B-7034-00001E05D5EE57BE-FFA Tue, 13 Jan 2009 16:40:04 -0500 The National Geodetic Survey (NGS) recently hosted a special guest at their Corbin Training Center in Richmond, Virginia. NGS, part of the Ocean Service, manages the National Spatial Reference System. http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/news/weeklynews/dec08/santa.html nos.web@noaa.gov 03DEF329-5B33-477A-8E68-6B53B154F267-7034-00001DFF41958E48-FFA Wed, 24 Dec 2008 16:39:29 -0500 Projects proposed by six state coastal zone management agencies have been selected for the 2009 Coastal Management Fellowship program. This two-year opportunity offers a competitive salary, medical benefits, and travel and relocation expense reimbursement. Student applications for the fellowship are due January 26, 2009. http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/news/weeklynews/dec08/coastal_fellows.html nos.web@noaa.gov 8BD3DFAF-505C-4781-82A9-76D33CB5B973-7034-00001DF68F245EEE-FFA Mon, 22 Dec 2008 16:38:57 -0500 In a recent study, NOS scientists found that parts and pieces of lobster traps are the most common form of marine debris in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. The tens of thousands of traps lost each year continue to trap, injure, or kill sea life; damage sensitive habitats; and are a hazard to navigation. http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/news/weeklynews/dec08/lobstertraps.html nos.web@noaa.gov D92105AE-7CC6-43DE-B60E-15416441FF99-7034-00001DEFE65974A5-FFA Fri, 19 Dec 2008 16:38:25 -0500 A team of NOS researchers recently won the Department of Commerce Gold Medal for developing techniques to locate and map underwater unexploded ordnance in shallow water using high-tech sensors. http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/news/weeklynews/dec08/uxo.html nos.web@noaa.gov 59BF40E2-C6C9-41E1-B36F-979868D18E16-7034-00001DEA7BEE2684-FFA Tue, 16 Dec 2008 16:37:58 -0500 The Cooperative Institute for Coastal and Estuarine Environmental Technology (CICEET), a partnership between the National Ocean Service and the University of New Hampshire, recently brought land-use planning researchers and outreach specialists together as part of the Living Coasts Program http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/news/weeklynews/dec08/livingcoasts.html nos.web@noaa.gov 0D2209B3-FDB3-458D-9381-A69DA833D4D6-7034-00001DDAE1655C1E-FFA Fri, 12 Dec 2008 16:37:33 -0500 A new study by NOS researchers finds that harmful algal bloom (HAB) toxins are transferred to dolphins through the fish they eat. The findings point out the need for coastal managers to consider long-term, repeated dietary exposure to harmful algal toxins in their assessments of marine mammal health risks. http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/news/weeklynews/dec08/dolphin_habs.html nos.web@noaa.gov 39AB992D-08F9-4707-8D53-F498DBBD6CB0-7034-00001DC8E6961DE9-FFA Wed, 10 Dec 2008 16:36:24 -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. A quarter of the carbon dioxide that humans place in the atmosphere each year ends up being dissolved into the ocean. http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/news/weeklynews/dec08/acidification.html nos.web@noaa.gov ED3FA03B-8436-4389-8A74-F27FB2603E60-7034-00001DAEFB1CD004-FFA Tue, 2 Dec 2008 16:35:00 -0500 A blueprint for establishing a national system of marine protected areas (MPAs) was finalized on Nov. 19, establishing a more efficient and effective approach to conservation of the nation's important natural and cultural marine resources. http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/news/weeklynews/nov08/mpa.html nos.web@noaa.gov 2419B2C8-AD8A-4DA1-B4C8-B2E4690C3207-7034-00001DA7CFEAC065-FFA Fri, 28 Nov 2008 16:33:16 -0500 NOAA has released final revised management plans, regulations, and a joint final environmental impact statement for Cordell Bank, Gulf of the Farallones, and Monterey Bay national marine sanctuaries. The result of more than seven years of study, planning and extensive public input. http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/news/weeklynews/nov08/sanctuaries_calif.html nos.web@noaa.gov 0247A103-B92D-433A-9EC4-5FEC37F213FD-7034-00001DA0601C76DB-FFA Mon, 24 Nov 2008 16:32:44 -0500 The NOS International Program Office recently wrapped up meetings with officials from Trinidad and Tobago, the latest in a series of talks aimed at providing technical assistance to Caribbean countries aimed at developing comprehensive plans to reduce land-based sources of pollution to the marine environment. http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/news/weeklynews/nov08/unep.html nos.web@noaa.gov B8BBF61D-70DD-4221-AB99-52CBCBF66192-7034-00001D98A8B5A133-FFA Fri, 21 Nov 2008 16:32:02 -0500 The head of the National Ocean Service addressed city leaders, scientists, researchers, and entrepreneurs this week at the first-ever Coastal Cities Summit in St. Pete Beach, Fla. At the three-day summit, he discussed NOAA coastal management initiatives in the context of sobering challenges. http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/news/weeklynews/nov08/summit.html nos.web@noaa.gov 5D5F861C-6690-433A-804B-19B3869733C8-7034-00001D8FA96D3B28-FFA Thu, 20 Nov 2008 16:31:31 -0500 A team of NOS forensic experts recently used DNA analysis to find that four small carvings were made of moose bone. The test results indicate that the carvings do not violate U.S. law, saving NOAA agents, attorneys, and the defendant time and money. http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/news/weeklynews/nov08/forensic_marine.html nos.web@noaa.gov B49355EA-3BDA-4A5F-89AF-AC8F60E1AD78-7034-00001D888DF9A58C-FFA Tue, 18 Nov 2008 16:31:02 -0500 In fall 2007, four blue whales died after being struck by vessels in the Santa Barbara Channel off the coast of California. This year, NOAA’s Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary, NOAA Fisheries, the National Weather Service, and the U.S. Coast Guard are working closely with the shipping industry to keep this from happening again. http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/news/weeklynews/nov08/whalemonitoring.html nos.web@noaa.gov FBF1F40E-A6DA-4D74-9535-0DD29992B275-7034-00001D7F627999D0-FFA Thu, 13 Nov 2008 16:30:26 -0500 A new map of shallow water seabed habitats along the Texas Coastal Bend is now available. The new product from NOAA’s Coastal Services Center (CSC) joins a growing list of mapped coastal regions providing critical data about the condition of underwater vegetation around the nation. http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/news/weeklynews/nov08/benthic_map_tx.html nos.web@noaa.gov 84809C06-D2A8-486F-B36A-EF8B78B70454-7034-00001D79B9BDA6ED-FFA Tue, 11 Nov 2008 16:29:51 -0500 Scientists from NOAA's Office of Coast Survey and the University of New Hampshire recently completed a three-week expedition to map one of the least-known sea floor areas in the world. http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/news/weeklynews/nov08/arcticmapping.html nos.web@noaa.gov 8AD0A5E5-546A-4604-AECF-70D817E84FD5-7034-00001D70A5FB4B1A-FFA Thu, 6 Nov 2008 16:29:16 -0500 The National Geodetic Survey (NGS) is moving forward with an effort to measure and monitor variations in the gravity field of the earth, part of an ambitious program to provide a better, faster, and less expensive way to acquire accurate elevations for the nation. http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/news/weeklynews/nov08/grav-d.html nos.web@noaa.gov 94CF7680-6CB0-4C70-B25E-C388D02CA39B-7034-00001D6903039308-FFA Tue, 4 Nov 2008 16:28:46 -0500 Two hurricanes and two major ship accidents marked the busiest season ever for the NOS Office of Response and Restoration over the past Fiscal Year. In total, the NOS office responded to 179 incidents, three-quarters of which were oil spills. Thousands of incidents occur each year in which oil or chemicals are released into the environment as a result of accidents or natural disasters. http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/news/weeklynews/october08/spill_response.html nos.web@noaa.gov 02C1A036-CDAA-43D0-AA7E-2E6D9F2D8AF1-7034-00001D505AD45A04-FFA Fri, 31 Oct 2008 17:28:11 -0400 A new current meter installed on Oct. 15 will help make the most dangerous passage in the Gulf Coast's Intracoastal Waterway a lot safer. In the aftermath of Hurricane Ike, navigation along this stretch of the Intracoastal Highway grew even more difficult. http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/news/weeklynews/october08/galveston_current.html nos.web@noaa.gov E6412D80-85F0-4B5A-9A69-425B9CE73F76-7034-00001D4A09896AD1-FFA Thu, 30 Oct 2008 17:26:37 -0400 NOAA's National Ocean Service recently joined the EcoZone (r) Green Schools Initiative, a public-private environmental outreach and education effort sponsored by EcoMedia and the CBS Corporation. The Initiative kicks off with a competition for a 'green makeover' worth more than $100,000 for schools in three cities. http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/news/weeklynews/october08/ecozone.html nos.web@noaa.gov 5101F90D-AE10-47DC-A736-D2584C9A067D-7034-00001D3D526723F0-FFA Wed, 22 Oct 2008 17:26:10 -0400 National Ocean Service (NOS) researchers began testing the use of sonar to investigate sea turtle abundance and habitats in coastal waters near Cape Lookout, North Carolina, this October. This novel use of acoustic technology may lead to new ways to protect threatened and endangered species. http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/news/weeklynews/october08/sonar_turtles.html nos.web@noaa.gov 78F20058-F095-464D-B667-FE8D6F1DDE28-7034-00001D3462E91BF6-FFA Tue, 14 Oct 2008 17:25:16 -0400 NOAA's Coral Reef Watch bleaching monitoring network recently expanded from 24 to 190 'virtual stations.' Nearly 200 sites around the world are now continually monitored from space to notify coral reef managers, scientists, and other interested parties when ocean conditions are ripe for coral bleaching. http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/news/weeklynews/coralnetwork.html nos.web@noaa.gov DCA6563D-E168-468B-A8D9-E36EA5FAB66F-7034-00001CFF9B05D1B0-FFA Mon, 6 Oct 2008 17:24:06 -0400