- Winter Temperatures Near Average for U.S.
Temperatures for December 2008 – February 2009 across the contiguous U.S. were near average according to a preliminary analysis by scientists at NOAA’s National Climatic Data Center in Asheville, N.C. For February, the average temperature was above the long-term average.
- New Deep-Sea Coral Discovered
Scientists identified seven new species of bamboo coral discovered on a NOAA-funded mission in the deep waters of the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument.