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

dot gov icon Official websites use .gov

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

https icon 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.

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration logo National Ocean Service National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
  • Home
  • Ocean Facts
  • Topics
    Explore All Topics Arctic Careers Deep Seabed Mineral Resources Economy Ecosystems Geodesy Hazards International Navigation Observations Ocean Recreation Sea Level Rise Tools
  • Education
  • News
  • Podcasts
  • Video
  • Images
  • About Us

NOAA’s National Ocean Service

America’s leader in coastal and ocean science, technology, and management.

tides and currents icon
tides and currents
nautical chart icon
nautical charts
double click icon
career profiles
sun and ocean icon
harmful algal blooms
water with house icon
sea level
rise
two kids icon
Education
Resources
Underwater ship bow covered in rust and ocean life.
The USS Monitor, Part 1: History and Legacy

In our latest podcast episode, we discuss the history of the ship and why its sinking is still important today.

PODCAST
E.C. Hogg, a TRAP program participant, pulls up a derelict crab pot in February 2025. (Photo credit: John Wallace, William & Mary’s VIMS & Batten School).
How Removing Lost Crab Traps Is Helping Map the Chesapeake Bay

A partnership is turning routine vessel activity and lost crab trap removal into a new source of bathymetric data.

COASTAL SCIENCE
A rocky jetty crosses the frame in shallow Bay waters. A wooden walkway follows the jetty halfway, then turns and continues as an L-shaped wooden pier out into the water.
Transforming Chesapeake Bay Water Forecasting

NOAA partners launch new environmental modeling and forecasting tools.

COASTAL SCIENCE
An aerial photo of the green waters of harmful algal bloom in western Lake Erie, July 20, 2020. (Image credit: Courtesy of Zachary Haslick, Aerial Associates)
Lake Erie harmful algal bloom forecast

NOAA and its research partners are forecasting a moderate harmful algal bloom in western Lake Erie this summer.

Myrtle beach view
Maximizing coastal observation infrastructure

New platform is testing whether water level sensors can deliver two types of data.

As part of water quality data collection, cross-sectional field parameters are recorded at the Mississippi River at Vicksburg, MS (USGS 07289000), Photo Credit: Nick Barsotti, USGS
Gulf of America “dead zone” forecast

Low-oxygen conditions are expected to be larger than average, impacting a 7,027 square-mile area.

Around the Ocean Service
  • Blue IQ video series
    BEACH SAFETY
  • The 20th Anniversary of the NOAA Marine Debris Program
    MILESTONES
  • 2026 Sanctuaries photo contest
    SANCTUARIES
scroll to top arrow icon
  • Provide Feedback
  • Contact Us
  • Report an error
Social
  • X Logo
  • Facebook Logo
  • Instagram Logo
  • Youtube Logo
  • LinkedIn Logo
NOAA Logo

Science. Service.
Stewardship.

About NOS
  • About Us
  • NOS Program Offices
  • Media Inquiries
  • Site Index
  • Disclaimer
More Resources
  • Freedom of Information Act
  • Accessibility
  • Information Quality
  • Privacy Policy
  • USA.gov
  • Department of Commerce
  • National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
  • National Ocean Service