Researchers, students, and mariners now have a new and easier way to access information on coastal and ocean issues. NOAA’s National Ocean Service (NOAA Oceans and Coasts) has launched its new Web site offering users unprecedented access to NOAA Oceans and Coasts’ richly diverse resources. The user friendly site contains updated and archived information on topics such as coral reefs and coastal ecosystem science. NOAA Oceans and Coasts is an agency of the Department of Commerce’s National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

The new Web site, http://oceanservice.noaa.gov, provides in-depth information about NOAA Oceans and Coasts’ programs and services. Now organized thematically with simple navigation in mind, the Web site was developed by NOAA Oceans and Coasts’ Communications and Education Division in collaboration with all of NOAA Oceans and Coasts’ ten program and staff offices.

The Web site includes an expanded Education section, http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/education/, that features in-depth online tutorials for teachers and students on ocean-related subjects, plus educational road maps to NOAA resources and dynamic multimedia illustrations.

The Web site also includes other new expansive sections of information including:

• the “Topics” section, http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/topics/, offering brief descriptions of oceans, coasts, and charting and navigation services provided by NOAA Oceans and Coasts. Information under the “Topics” section includes marine protected areas, coral reef conservation, natural resource restoration, coastal ecosystem science, marine navigation, and tides and currents.
• an Outreach section http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/outreach/ that provides users with access to numerous online and offline NOAA Oceans and Coasts outreach materials;
• a Publications section http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/pubs/ that features a searchable database of complete bibliographic information of more than 400 NOAA Oceans and Coasts publications, many of which are available online;
• a MapFinder section, http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/mapfinder/ in which NOAA Oceans and Coasts’ extensive collection of bathymetric maps, charts and aerial photographs are available in a searchable database;
• an expanded News section http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/news/ that includes a quarterly multimedia presentation of NOAA Oceans and Coasts activities, weekly news capsules featuring up-to-date information, and a regular Feature Story that profiles the innovations and capacities within the agency; and
• a comprehensive annotated list of NOAA Oceans and Coasts Web sites http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/websites/ to ensure users have immediate access to the entire suite of NOAA Oceans and Coasts’ resources.

NOAA National Ocean Service (NOAA Oceans and Coasts) is dedicated to exploring, understanding, conserving and restoring the nation’s coasts and oceans. NOAA Oceans and Coasts balances environmental protection with economic prosperity in fulfilling its mission of promoting safe navigation, supporting coastal communities, sustaining coastal habitats, and mitigating coastal hazards.

The Commerce Department’s National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) 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.

On the Web:

NOAA: http://www.noaa.gov

NOAA National Ocean Service: http://oceanservice.noaa.gov