NOAA's National Ocean Service

an illustration of how sound travels through a SOFAR channel

SOFAR: Learn how sound can travel great distances in the ocean.

We're celebrating our ocean throughout the month of June. You can follow along on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. Look for #30daysofocean. This week, we're focusing on hydrography. Hydrography is the science that measures and describes the physical features of the navigable portion of the Earth's surface and adjoining coastal areas. Hydrographic surveyors study these bodies of water to see what the "floor" looks like. NOAA conducts hydrographic surveys to measure the depth and bottom configuration of water bodies. This information is vital to navigating the ocean and our nation's waterways.

This NASA satellite image shows the lagoons and reefs of New Caledonia. This French-governed archipelago contains the world’s third-largest coral reef structure.

You've heard of lagoons, but do you know how these bodies of water are defined?

OCEAN STRUCTURES

Escape Hatch: See how sea turtles hatch en masse to increase their chances of survival.

OCEAN LIFE

Podcast: The National Ocean Service role in hurricane prep, response, and recovery.

PODCAST

2018
International Year of the Reef

Did you know that coral reefs support more species than any other marine environment and rival rainforests in their biodiversity? 2018 is the third International Year of the Reef—a platform to highlight the importance of coral reefs. Covering less than one percent of the planet, reefs are the home to 25 percent of marine species and supply food to millions of people. They are also vital to our ocean economy, providing billions of dollars in services, such coastal protection, jobs, tourism and more.

SUMMER 2018
National High Tide Outlook

The rising and falling of the sea is a phenomenon upon which we can always depend. Tides are the regular rise and fall of the sea surface caused by the gravitational pull of the moon and sun and their position relative to the earth. There are some factors that cause the tides to be higher than what is "normally" seen from day to day. This bulletin tells you when you may experience higher than normal high tides for the period of time between June and August 2018.

illustration of person in rip current and lifeguard going to save said person

OCEAN TODAY VIDEOS
Rip Current Survival Guide

Rip currents are powerful, narrow channels of fast-moving water that are prevalent along the East, Gulf, and West coasts of the U.S., as well as along the shores of the Great Lakes. Moving at speeds of up to eight feet per second, rip currents can move faster than an Olympic swimmer. Rip currents can be dangerous to anyone. If you know how to spot them, and how to respond if caught in one, you could save your own life or the lives of others. Join the millions of people who have watched these videos and make every summer beach trip a positive one.

NOS DIVERSITY
People, Places, and Jobs

We are inextricably connected to our ocean. It is our planet's lifeblood. Many may not think much of our ocean, but it's with us every day. It provides our food and the oxygen we breathe. It regulates our climate and shapes our coastline. It holds countless secrets that are yet to be uncovered. Join us as we discover and explore the diversity of people, places, and jobs across NOAA's National Ocean Service in this video. As the nation's premier ocean protection agency, NOAA's National Ocean Service is a community of people with diverse skills.