Features

Explore NOAA's Historical Shoreline Survey Viewer

With over half of the U.S. population living in coastal areas, it's no wonder that our shorelines have dramatically changed over time. Curious to see how development has altered the shoreline near you? With NOAA's Historical Shoreline Survey Viewer, it's easy to access a large number of historical shoreline surveys conducted by NOAA and its predecessor organizations. More...

Voyage to Discovery: African-American Maritime Heritage

Visit Voyage to Discovery for feature stories, interviews, and videos about African-American contributions to the nation’s maritime heritage. The website is a partnership of NOAA's Office of National Marine Sanctuaries (ONMS), Murrain Associates, Inc., and the National Association of Black Scuba Divers. More...

A Salute to NOAA's Iconic Disney Cousin

This Disney "icon" of lesser fame but equal significance — at least as far as NOAA is concerned — is the U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey (C&GS) Eagle. During World War II, The Walt Disney Studio actually designed an insignia for C&GS, the predecessor of NOAA's Office of Coast Survey, Center for Operational Oceanographic Products and Services, National Geodetic Survey, and Office of Marine and Aviation Operations. More...

NOAA-sponsored Center of Excellence for Coral Reef Ecosystems Research Opens in Florida

Late last month, Nova Southeastern University officially opened its new Center of Excellence for Coral Reef Ecosystems Research at John U. Lloyd Beach State Park. The 86,000-square-foot research facility is now the largest in the nation dedicated to the study of coral reef ecosystems. The center will host coral specialists from across the globe, and make it possible for groundbreaking coral research to continue in the controlled setting of a state-of-the-art laboratory. More...

NOAA Provides Weekly Harmful Algal Bloom Forecasts for Lake Erie

The western shores of Lake Erie have long been a longed-for destination of Ohio residents and others from nearby states. For many, summer would not be complete without time spent fishing, boating, or kayaking at Huntington Beach, Headlands State Park, or the ever popular Put-in-Bay. The annual economic value of Lake Erie tourism is estimated at $10 billion, and that’s before considering the large commercial fishery that thrives there, too. More...