NATIONAL UNDERSEA RESEARCH PROGRAM LAUNCHES NEW WEB SITE

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Undersea Research Program, which operates the nation’s only manned underwater observatory, and supports studies of coral reef health and research into past and present climate change, today launched a revamped Web site, at http://www.nurp.noaa.gov.

The new site features descriptions of NURP’s scientific research and discoveries, all written with a lay audience in mind, and contains a searchable multimedia database of underwater photographs and video collected by NURP-supported scientists. A link on the site to the NURP library provides access to a wealth of multimedia content of subjects ranging from artificial reefs to zebra mussels, and a gallery of still photographs of subjects ranging from marine mammals to underwater vents and divers to undersea habitats. All of the images are in the public domain, making them excellent resources for students and teachers.

“The site is both beautiful and functional. The new design not only better showcases the important research NURP supports on one of Earth’s final scientific frontiers, it also makes the Web a wonderful educational tool for people of all ages who want to learn about the more than 70 percent of our globe that lies beneath the waves,” said Barbara Moore, NURP program director.

As the federal agency responsible for managing living marine and coastal resources, NOAA requires a presence beneath the sea and Great Lakes to better understand the systems under its management. NURP provides NOAA with the unique ability to directly access the undersea environment through the use of submersibles and technical diving, or remotely through the use of robots and seafloor observatories. NURP is part of NOAA’s Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR).

“Protecting, restoring and managing our ocean, coastal and Great Lakes resources as well as managing and restoring endangered fish and mammal species are among NOAA’s strategic goals for the next five years. The new Web site helps the public to understand how NOAA is meeting these challenges in the underwater realm,” said retired Navy Vice Admiral Conrad C. Lautenbacher, Jr., Ph.D., under secretary of commerce for oceans and atmosphere and NOAA administrator.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, an agency of the U.S. Commerce Department, is dedicated to enhancing economic security and national safety through the prediction and research of weather and climate-related events and providing environmental stewardship of our nation’s coastal and marine resources.