Ecosystems & Climate Overview
Billions of dollars of value in recreational, tourism and commercial activity depend on healthy coastal, ocean and fresh water environments. Pressures on these systems are increasing and in some cases have already caused severe impacts such as fishery closures due to overfishing, harmful algal blooms, and degradation to coastal ecosystems. One of NOAA's primary missions is to "protect, restore, and manage the use of coastal and ocean resources through an ecosystem approach to management." Improving and protecting the condition of these resources requires advanced tools, observation systems, and effective coordination, in order to provide decision makers with information of the highest quality.
NOAA and its partners continuously work on a variety of ecosystem health issues through collecting data and performing research using an array of instrumentation (e.g., submersibles, remotely operated or autonomous underwater vehicles, mixed gas diving gear, underwater laboratories and observatories).
Data Stories
Short descriptions on how specific NOAA data, products, and services help to address Ecosystems sector decision making needs. Links to the data are also provided.
Data Set
A list of select NOAA data, products, and services used in business or personal decision-making within the Ecosystems sector.
