News Highlights

There's a lot going on at NOAA's National Ocean Service.

geoid model of the earth

A Tale of Three Datums

NOAA is currently working on three major updates to vertical datums. They’re used for everything from nautical charts and flood maps to infrastructure planning. A datum is a reference system that starts at an agreed data point. You’re probably familiar with at least one horizontal datum — latitude and longitude. If you’ve been to a mountaintop and seen a sign with the distance above sea level, you’re also familiar with vertical datums, which measure heights. Here’s a rundown on what we’re updating and why.
hurricane zeta imagery
Zeta Emergency Response Imagery

View National Geodetic Survey aerial damage assessment images collected in the aftermath of Hurricane Zeta.

national geodetic survey
hurricane delta imagery
Delta Emergency Response Imagery

View National Geodetic Survey aerial damage assessment images collected in the aftermath of Hurricane Delta.

national geodetic survey
hurricane sally imagery
Sally Damage Assessment Imagery

From September 18-21, the National Geodetic Survey (NGS) collected aerial damage assessment images in the aftermath of Hurricane Sally.

national geodetic survey
Exploring the Hudson River in New York. Credit: Chris Bowser
Estuary Education Goes Virtual

Each year as many as 90,000 students visit the 29 National Estuarine Research Reserves on field trips, summer camps, and other educational programs.

coastal management

The Top 40

Looking for a recent story? Here are our latest 40 posts.

  1. A Tale of Three Datums: Keeping Up With an Ever-changing Earth
    16 Nov 2020
  2. Hurricane Zeta Emergency Response Imagery Available Online
    29 Oct 2020
  3. Hurricane Delta Emergency Response Imagery Available Online
    11 Oct 2020
  4. Estuary Education Goes Virtual
    21 Sep 2020
  5. Hurricane Sally Aerial Damage Assessment Imagery Available
    18 Sep 2020
  6. NOAA Improves Marine Navigation Near Georgia and New Hampshire Naval Bases
    10 Sep 2020
  7. Fall High Tide Bulletin
    1 Sep 2020
  8. Hurricane Laura Aerial Damage Assessment Imagery Available
    28 Aug 2020
  9. IOOS Ocean Technology Transition Project Grants Announced
    26 Aug 2020
  10. Common Misconceptions about the Ocean
    18 Aug 2020
  11. Isaias Damage Assessment Imagery Available
    4 Aug 2020
  12. Precision Navigation
    9 Jul 2020
  13. Lake Erie Harmful Algal Bloom Forecast Improved
    9 Jul 2020
  14. NOAA's Emergency Response Imagery
    1 Jul 2020
  15. U.S. Marine Biodiversity Observing Network
    5 Jun 2020
  16. Summer High Tide Bulletin
    1 Jun 2020
  17. Advances in Oil Spill Science and Technology
    19 Apr 2020
  18. What is a bilby tower?
    30 Mar 2020
  19. Spring High Tide Bulletin
    2 Mar 2020
  20. Exploring the Secrets of Marsh Happiness
    18 Feb 2020
  21. National Ocean Service Annual Report
    8 Jan 2020
  22. Winter High Tide Bulletin
    5 Dec 2019
  23. Corals Week 2019
    2 Dec 2019
  24. Native American Heritage Month
    5 Nov 2019
  25. Tracking Marine Animals Worldwide (on the World Wide Web!)
    28 Oct 2019
  26. A Tale of Two Feet
    7 Oct 2019
  27. NOAA 2020 Tide Tables are Available
    3 Oct 2019
  28. National Estuaries Week Gets Active
    12 Sep 2019
  29. Harmful Algal Blooms: Regional Information
    12 Sep 2019
  30. Fall 2019 High Tide Bulletin
    9 Sep 2019
  31. Hurricane Dorian Damage Assessment Imagery
    9 Sep 2019
  32. NOAA Responds to Ongoing Outbreak of Coral Disease in Florida
    18 Jul 2019
  33. Assessing Barry's Damage to Coastal Communities from the Air
    17 Jul 2019
  34. NOAA report: Growth in U.S. Ocean Economic Sectors Continues to Outpace Overall Economy
    18 Jun 2019
  35. Summer 2019 High Tide Bulletin
    18 Jun 2019
  36. A Boatload of Nautical Products
    20 May 2019
  37. Skincare Chemicals and Coral Reefs
    13 May 2019
  38. Ocean Tourism and Recreation
    10 May 2019
  39. NOAA Science Helps Restore Coastal Places
    17 Apr 2019
  40. Citizen Science
    11 Apr 2019
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