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News Highlights

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

Deepwater Horizon oil spill: 15 years of recovery, research, and restoration

This April marks 15 years since the Deepwater Horizon oil spill — the largest offshore oil spill in U.S. history. The incident resulted in the tragic loss of 11 lives, the release of approximately 134 gallons of oil into the Gulf of America, and unprecedented impacts to coastal resources and the people who depend on them. NOAA was on the scene from the earliest moments of the event to guide emergency response and environmental assessment efforts; and has continued to work over the past 15 years to restore the Gulf, advance oil spill science and technologies, and improve preparedness to support future events.

Kayakers paddle through Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary. Credit: Chuck Graham.
NOAA’s National Ocean Service: Working for you!

NOAA’s National Ocean Service (NOS) has a unique mission that includes some of the most interesting parts of government! NOS is America’s leader in coastal and ocean science, technology, and management. We balance economic and environmental needs and deliver tools and services that directly support national security and the public. Dive in to learn more about how NOS works for you each and every day.

An yellow uncrewed NOAA surface vessel with sensors on the top surveys the Potomac river bed for debris (credit: John Gray/NOAA)
National Ocean Service experts, technology support DCA aircraft collision recovery efforts

Specialists work with federal and local partners to map wreckage and ensure safe navigation on the Potomac River

A tower with sensors sits on the shoreline of the Hudson River in New York, with a bridge and trees in the background.
New data for improved navigation in the upper Hudson River

Real-time data on coastal conditions will support improved maritime navigation in New York.

NOS drift card used to track 1976 oil spill found
NOS drift card used to track 1976 oil spill found

A drift card released near Nantucket, Massachusetts was found 48 years later and 3,000 miles away in Scotland.

The Top 40

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

  1. Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill: 15 Years of Recovery, Research, and Restoration
    16 Apr 2025
  2. NOAA’s National Ocean Service: Working for you!
    5 Mar 2025
  3. National Ocean Service experts, technology support DCA aircraft collision recovery efforts
    24 Feb 2025
  4. New data for improved navigation in the upper Hudson River
    30 Jan 2025
  5. NOS drift card used to track 1976 oil spill found
    17 Jan 2025
  6. $40 million recovered from polluters for restoration in three states
    13 Jan 2025
  7. National Ocean Service releases first modeled water level and wave dataset
    13 Jan 2025
  8. Corals Week 2024
    9 Dec 2024
  9. Explore planet Earth with Teek and Tom!
    3 Dec 2024
  10. Employment in Coastal Inundation Zones dataviewer is a new aid to coastal planners
    12 Nov 2024
  11. National Ocean Service helps reopen Florida ports after Hurricane Milton
    18 Oct 2024
  12. Hurricane Milton: aerial imagery
    11 Oct 2024
  13. Hurricane Helene: aerial imagery
    27 Sep 2024
  14. Hurricane Francine: aerial imagery
    16 Sep 2024
  15. NOAA launches new Salish Seas and Columbia River operational forecast system
    16 Sep 2024
  16. Helping protect Caribbean region’s coastal zones an exciting adventure
    26 Aug 2024
  17. Hurricane Debby: aerial imagery
    8 Aug 2024
  18. NOAA study validates sea level data for future flood risk outlooks
    26 June 2024
  19. Exploring the Pacific on NOAA Ship Rainier
    4 Apr 2024
  20. Accurate positioning data for Alaska and the Arctic
    18 Mar 2024
  21. Protecting the nation's coastal ocean
    28 Feb 2024
  22. Reaching New Heights
    5 Feb 2024
  23. Maritime commerce in a changing climate
    1 Nov 2023
  24. Pollution settlement will benefit salmon, wildlife and people in Portland Harbor, Oregon
    1 Nov 2023
  25. Hurricane Lee Emergency Response Imagery
    17 Sep 2023
  26. NOS releases modeling strategy
    1 Sep 2023
  27. Hurricane Idalia: Aerial Imagery
    31 Aug 2023
  28. Coastal Resilience: How the National Ocean Service supports this national priority
    18 Aug 2023
  29. Studying the health of dolphins after pollution
    10 Mar 2023
  30. December 2022 water levels break eight historical records
    19 Jan 2023
  31. NOS Fiscal Year 2022: Year in Review
    18 Jan 2023
  32. NOAA to Launch Major Advancement in Seasonal High Tide Flooding Predictions
    14 Dec 2022
  33. Corals Week 2022
    2 Dec 2022
  34. Meet the International Coral Reef Initiative
    2 Dec 2022
  35. NOAA Winter High Tide Bulletin
    15 Nov 2022
  36. Save Spectacular: Celebrating 50 Years of National Marine Sanctuaries
    21 Oct 2022
  37. Looking Back and Looking Forward
    11 Oct 2022
  38. Hurricane Ian: Damage Assessment Imagery Available
    30 Sep 2022
  39. Ramping Up Renewable Energy: How NOS is helping boost offshore wind energy in the US
    21 Sep 2022
  40. NOAA Fall High Tide Bulletin
    16 Aug 2022
  41. 2021 National Ocean Service Science Report
    20 Jul 2022
  42. Mapping the Gaps in Our Ocean Knowledge with Seabed 2030
    29 Jun 2022