National Ocean Service National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration U.S. Department of Commerce

NOAA's National Ocean Service

What does this fish have to do with beach sand? The answer may surprise you.

Ocean acidification is affecting the entire world’s oceans, including coastal estuaries and waterways. Ocean acidification refers to a reduction in the pH of the ocean over an extended period of time, caused primarily by uptake of carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere. These changes in ocean chemistry can affect the behavior of non-calcifying organisms as well. Certain fish's ability to detect predators is decreased in more acidic waters. When these organisms are at risk, the entire food web may also be at risk.

Explore our role in keeping America's beachgoers safe.

BEACH SAFETY

Take a virtual trip to Hawaiian Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary.

Get Into Your Sanctuary!

Going to the Beach? Plan your summer beach visit with these safety tips in mind.

BEACH DANGERS

Annapolis, Maryland, pictured here in 2012, saw the greatest increase in nuisance flooding in a recent NOAA study. (Credit: With permission from Amy McGovern.)

SUMMER 2017
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 2017.

OCEAN TODAY FULL MOON
Hurricane Survival Guide

Don't miss the latest Ocean Today Hurricane Survival Guide video series. Being aware of the power of these destructive forces, and the science behind them, can help you stay safe this hurricane season. When the maximum sustained winds of a tropical storm reach 74 miles per hour, it’s called a hurricane. Hurricane Season begins on June 1 and ends on November 30, but these powerful storms can occur before and after the official season. A hurricane can be an awesome and destructive force of nature. Be prepared.

Response & Restoration
Where's the wildlife?

Scenario: You’re a state natural resource manager for a coastal salt marsh and just got a call that a tanker spilled thousands of gallons of crude oil that is now heading for your shores. You have maybe two hours before the oil starts washing up on your coast. What do you do? How do you determine what animals may be in jeopardy? How do you prepare a response plan to protect those species? The Environmental Sensitivity Index is a good place to start. Get to know an amazing mapping tool from NOAA's Response and Restoration.

Florida coast screenshot from nowCOAST app online

COASTAL CONDITIONS
NOAA's nowCOAST™

Did you know that national coastal conditions are available online with nowCOAST? NOAA's nowCOAST is a GIS-based webmap service that provides frequently updated ocean observations along with coastal and marine weather forecasts 24 hours a day. The free online map offers point-and-click access to 60 NOAA data products and services all in one place. With nowCOAST, you can get a one-stop-shop look at coastal conditions — real-time and forecast — before you do or plan anything on the water.