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NOAA's National Ocean Service (NOS) provides science-based solutions through collaborative partnerships to address the evolving economic, environmental, and social pressures on our ocean and coasts.
In Fiscal Year 2021, we increased navigation safety, strengthened coastal resilience efforts, improved the monitoring and detection of harmful algal blooms, and facilitated the advancement of coral restoration efforts. These are just some of the many accomplishments from this fiscal year that NOS is pleased to share in this report.
We also provided a wide variety of emergency services in response to nine severe storm events and four tropical cyclone events, while continuing to respond to additional challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Visit the “Browse by Hurricane,” “Browse by Office,” and “NOS by the Numbers: 2021” sections of this report for the many actions we have taken, challenges we have overcome, and scientific endeavors we have embarked upon to advance safe and efficient transportation and commerce; preparedness and risk reduction; and stewardship, recreation, and tourism for the American people.
The number of new non-contact microwave sensors used in the National Water Level Observation Network. The sensors deliver more accurate measurements and reduce maintenance costs.
The number of corals in the Caribbean treated using money provided by the Coral Emergency Response Fund.
The number in square kilometers (equal to 77,992 square miles) that NGS surveyed in Alaska’s remote Aleutian Islands — an area the size of the state of Nebraska.
The number of harmful algal bloom respiratory forecasts that NOAA provides for Florida Gulf Coast beaches.
The amount of money the nation’s marine economy produced in direct sales in 2019 — a 5.1% increase over 2018.
The approximate number, in square nautical miles, of new bathymetric data published.
The number of square kilometers (equal to 962 square miles) that encompass Wisconsin Shipwreck Coast National Marine Sanctuary, which was designated August 2021.
The amount of money NOAA and partners recovered from 10 contaminated waterways in six coastal states in 2021.
The amount of money allocated by IOOS for projects to enhance the monitoring and detection of harmful algal blooms.
The number of phones that NOS’s Information Management Office replaced with a modern phone and voice system.
The number of cigarette butts that students involved in NOAA Planet Stewards projects removed from beaches.
