If you live near the coast or the Great Lakes, you've probably experienced a harmful algal bloom — HAB for short. HABs occur when algae — simple photosynthetic organisms that live in the sea and freshwater — grow out of control while producing toxic or harmful effects on people, fish, shellfish, marine mammals, and birds. Visit our new portal for region-specific HAB information, links, and resources.
From September 4-7, the National Geodetic Survey (NGS) collected U.S. aerial damage assessment images for Hurricane Dorian. Imagery was collected in specific areas identified by NOAA in coordination with FEMA and other state and federal partners.
In our latest podcast, the chief of NOAA’s Disaster Preparedness program explains how her team facilitates internal communication, coordination, and preparation for all types of unforeseen disasters.
September has been a challenging month. On Sept. 2, the dive charter MV Conception was on an excursion within Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary when a catastrophic fire on the boat killed 34 people. While the events of the boating fire unfolded, Hurricane Dorian unleashed its fury.
The country’s research reserves are about more than simply enjoying or experiencing; they’re about doing. These places — and their staff, volunteers, and visitors — conserve, study, educate, clean, restore, and unite. We encourage you to head out to your favorite reserve, get actively involved, and post a photo on social media with #IDidThis. For inspiration, we offer a few examples of the actions the reserves, and the people who love them, have taken to make a difference.
There are some factors that cause the tides to be higher than what is "normally" seen from day to day. View our bulletin to see when you may experience higher than normal high tides for the period of time between September and November, 2019.
A project to survey the nation's gravity field will soon allow us to calculate heights with much greater accuracy. Mapping out hurricane evacuation routes and floodplains are just two cases in which it is critical to know accurate land heights so that we know which way water will flow.
Sponges are animals with dense skeletons that are often mistaken for plants, and appear in a wide variety of colors, shapes, and sizes. Scientists believe that the colors of the sponge may act as a protection from the sun’s harmful UV rays.
Meteotsunamis occur all over the world, but scientists are just beginning to better detect and understand them. In our latest podcast, hear about new research that advances what we know about these surprisingly common weather-driven events.
The latest economic figures in NOAA’s report on the U.S. Ocean and Great Lakes Economy indicates that tourism and recreation was the top employer in the ocean economy in 2016.
Florida's coral reefs are experiencing a multi-year outbreak of stony coral tissue loss disease. Here is a description of the problem, what NOAA and partners are doing in response to the problem, and how you can help.
NOAA scientists are forecasting this summer’s Gulf of Mexico hypoxic zone or ‘dead zone’ to be approximately 7,829 square miles, or roughly the size of Massachusetts. The annual prediction is based on U.S. Geological Survey river flow and nutrient data.
Like GPS devices for drivers, digital charts make traveling on the ocean easier for mariners. In our audio podcast, learn how digital charts make navigation safer and more efficient.
