NOAA's National Ocean Service

An official website of the United States government.
Here's how you know we're official.

Official websites use .gov

A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Secure websites use HTTPS

A small lock or https:// means you’ve safely connected to a .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Podcast: Equity and Justice in Coastal Planning

Tune in to the first podcast in a three-part series from the U.S. Global Change Research Program that explores how we make coastal decisions. In this episode, hear an interview with coastal consultant Adam Parris on the topic of equity and justice in coastal planning.

podcast

graphic showing the global conveyor belt

What is the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC)?

The AMOC is a system of ocean currents that circulates water within the Atlantic Ocean, bringing warm water north and cold water south. The AMOC circulates water from north to south and back in a long cycle within the Atlantic Ocean. This circulation brings warmth to various parts of the globe and also carries nutrients necessary to sustain ocean life.

ocean currents

For Teachers: Modeling Marine Ecosystems with Virtual Reality

New! Modeling Marine Ecosystems with Virtual Reality helps high school students explore how scientific models work. Our new modules offer interactive investigations where students use real data and models to explore human-caused changes in ocean ecosystems and the impacts they have on the plants and animals.

education

Winter High Tide Bulletin

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 December 2022 and February of 2023.

Podcast: Recording Oral Histories

The NOAA Voices Oral History Archive is a collection of more than 2300 oral histories. In this episode, we explore how this valuable resource helps us better understand the impact of weather events, coastal changes, and climate change. Voices has over 2300 oral histories in its collection, dating from the 1800s to the present day, and featuring interview subjects located from Maine to Samoa.

Photo credit: Jace Tunnell, Mission-Aransas National Estuarine Research Reserve

50 Years and Counting: How Coastal Zone Management Makes a Differences

Coastal management. While this may not be a widely understood term, the sentiments behind it are almost universally agreed upon, for coastal management represents the desire to protect people, infrastructure, habitats, economies, and communities. This list is obviously a tall order, but that’s what the Coastal Zone Management Act is all about.

Ramping Up Renewable Energy

Two years ago, there were no offshore wind farms in U.S. federal waters. Now, there are two farms, with a total of seven turbines in federal waters, producing roughly 32 megawatts of energy. These numbers are about to get a lot higher. The first two commercial-scale offshore wind projects, which will produce around 900 megawatts of energy, are both under construction. The U.S. government aims to deploy 30 gigawatts of wind energy production in federal waters by 2030. The National Ocean Service (NOS) is helping the nation achieve this goal.

ocean odyssesy text with marine life in background

New! Ocean Odyssey Educator's Guide

Our new educators guide includes eight elementary school level lessons, inspired by topics from the IMAX film Ocean Odyssey and many NOAA mission critical areas. These lessons progress for use from younger to older grade bands (2-5), but all contain aspects and resources which may be adapted for all grade bands.

The Fastest-Growing Port in Texas Just Got Even Safer

Mariners sailing in and around Port Freeport — the fastest-growing port in Texas — have something to celebrate. The seaport, located outside of Houston, is now fitted with a NOAA system that improves safe and efficient marine navigation. The technology is part of a nationwide network called Physical Oceanographic Real-Time System, or PORTS®.

RICHARD Cruise Combines Mapping, Charting, and Coral Surveys

This September marked the completion of the five-month expedition to the Mariana Islands on the NOAA ship Rainier. I’m proud to share with you a video message about this cruise. This innovative NOAA mission combined very different and historically siloed projects – mapping and charting in conjunction with coral reef ecosystem surveying.

50 years of ocean & coastal conservation

a humpback whale tale rising out of ocean

In 1972, in response to growing public concern about the state of our environment, Congress enacted banner legislation designed to protect our nation’s ocean and coasts. The legislation shaped our past 50 years and will continue to shape the future. Learn more and find out how you can help.

Around the Ocean Service

Earth had its 4th-warmest October on Record
climate change
NOAA Ocean Guardian Schools: The Next Generation for Our Blue Planet
sanctuaries
Marine Debris Cleanup Efforts in North Carolina Continue Years After Hurricane Florence
marine debris
Giving Thanks for the Partnerships that Make a Spill Response Happen
response and restoration
New Report Summarizes National Coral Reef Monitoring Program Biological Surveys in Florida
coastal ocean science
Stressed Out: Dungeness Crabs off the Pacific Northwest Coast
sanctuaries
NOAA Offices Partnering to Collect Satellite Imagery of Stranded Whales
response and restoration

Official websites use .gov

Secure websites use HTTPS

Corals Week 2022

tides and currents

nautical charts

harmful algal blooms

sea level
rise

hurricane response

Education
Resources