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NOAA National Ocean Service

Official feed for NOAA's National Ocean Service, the nation's premier federal science agency for our ocean and coasts. Find us on Twitter @noaaocean oceanservice.noaa.gov
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Marine biodiversity—the variety and variability of life in the ocean—can be an early indicator of change, provided it's noticed. The U.S. Marine Biodiversity Network aims to ensure that scientists not only notice changes in biodiversity at locations around the nation, but also have the tools in place to better understand what these changes tell us about ocean health over time. But marine life doesn't know borders. That's why the U.S. network is also expanding international cooperation with other marine biodiversity networks around the world. This image shows brown chromis (Chromis multilineata) and other small reef fish swim over large boulders of Great Star Coral (Montastraea cavernosa) in Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary. Various species of star coral and brain coral dominate the reefscape in the sanctuary. #biodiversity #ocean #oceanlife
Sunset over the marsh at the Guana Tolomato Matanzas National Estuarine Research Reserve in Florida. The Guana Tolomato Matanzas Reserve contains the northernmost extent of mangrove habitat on the U.S. east coast, some of the highest dunes in Florida, and one of the few remaining ‘inlets’ in northeast Florida not protected by a jetty. Credit: Guana Tolomato Matanzas National Estuarine Research Reserve #sunset #NERR #ResearchReserve #Florida #TravelTuesday
Atmospheric rivers are narrow regions in the atmosphere that transport much of the moisture from the tropics to northern latitudes. Atmospheric rivers are part of the Earth's ocean water cycle, and are tied closely to both water supply and flood risks. A well-known example of a strong atmospheric river is called the "Pineapple Express" (shown here in a 2010 GOES-11 satellite image) because moisture builds up in the tropical Pacific around Hawaii and can wallop the U.S. West Coast with heavy rainfall. #ocean #weather
This full moon, watch animals of the ice run, swim, slide, waddle, and fly. They are animals of the ice – and how they survive in the harsh extremes of the polar regions is amazing. As the earth continues to warm, however, their world is changing. Learn why sea ice is shrinking and how scientists are studying the impacts climate change is having on their home. #animals #ocean #oceanlife #fullmoon
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Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary was created by Congress in 1992 to protect humpback whales and their habitat in Hawai`i. The sanctuary, which lies within the shallow (less than 600 feet), warm waters surrounding the main Hawaiian Islands, constitutes one of the world's most important humpback whale habitats. Through education, outreach, research and resource protection activities, the sanctuary strives to protect humpback whales and their habitat in Hawai`i. Learn more at hawaiihumpbackwhale.noaa.gov In this photo, a breaching humpback whale. (Photo: Doug Perrine, NOAA Permit # 88) #whale #sanctuary #stewardship #Hawaii @noaasanctuaries
The waters surrounding the Puerto Rico archipelago are known for the diversity and beauty of the coral reefs. Those reefs are also under great pressure from population density, land uses, and shipping traffic. On Oct. 27, 2009, the tanker Port Stewart grounded in coral reef habitat on the southeast coast of Puerto Rico near the entrance to Yabucoa Channel. The tanker was carrying 7 million gallons of oil. Local efforts freed the ship the same day it grounded without an oil spill but both the grounding and removal process caused extensive injury to the reef. In this image, broken corals are draped on a floating coral array frame in order to grow bigger. Divers attached Acropora coral fragments, one of many coral types affected by the grounding. #coralreef #corals #restoration
The National Marine Sanctuary System includes 13 national marine sanctuaries across the nation, from the Western Pacific waters of American Samoa east to the North Atlantic Ocean. Today, NOAA has proposed two more national marine sanctuaries, and invites the public to comment on these proposals. In Wisconsin, NOAA is proposing to designate a 1,075-square-mile area of Lake Michigan adjacent to Manitowoc, Sheboygan, and Ozaukee counties. In Maryland, NOAA is proposing a national marine sanctuary along a 52-square-mile stretch of the tidal Potomac River adjacent to Charles County. Head to sanctuaries.noaa.gov to comment on these proposals. Image credit: Tamara Thomsen, Wisconsin Historical Society#sanctuaries #shipwrecks #Maryland #Wisconsin
Microplastics are a macro problem in our ocean! The majority of marine debris found around the world is made of plastic and can range from microbeads smaller than a sesame seed up to an 11-ton mass of abandoned fishing nets. Over time these plastics break down into what is called microplastics (smaller than five millimeters in size). How do microplastics interact chemically with the marine environment? Are marine species ingesting microplastics? And are chemicals from the plastics moving up the food chain? Chat with two NOAA Marine Debris experts at our next **Reddit "Ask Us Anything"** on January 12 at 1:00 p.m. EDT. #ocean #science #plastic #marinedebris #trash #ecosystems #pollution
Have you heard of the cryosphere? It's the frozen water part of the Earth system. There are places on Earth that are so cold that water is frozen solid. These areas of snow or ice, which are subject to temperatures below 32°F for at least part of the year, compose the cryosphere. The term “cryosphere” comes from the Greek word, “krios,” which means cold. Ice and snow on land are one part of the cryosphere. This includes the largest parts of the cryosphere, the continental ice sheets found in Greenland and Antarctica, as well as ice caps, glaciers, and areas of snow and permafrost. When continental ice flows out from land and to the sea surface, we get shelf ice. The other part of the cryosphere is ice that is found in water. This includes frozen parts of the ocean, such as waters surrounding Antarctica and the Arctic. It also includes frozen rivers and lakes, which mainly occur in polar areas. This image shows the Beaufort Sea, north of Alaska. #cryosphere #oceanfact #ocean #cold #frozen
If your New Year's resolution includes getting outdoors and exploring, be sure to follow our #TravelTuesday posts for inspiration! This image shows the Rachel Carson Reserve, part of the North Carolina National Estuarine Research Reserve. The North Carolina Reserve was established to preserve the fragile natural areas that make up the third largest estuarine system in the country and the variety of life found there. Learn more at nerrs.noaa.gov
Have you ever wondered how fish survive in cold winter weather, or where they go when lakes and ponds freeze over? Like many people, fish tend to be less active in the cold. As cold-blooded creatures, their metabolism dips when temperatures take a dive. The layer of ice that forms on top of a lake, pond, river, or stream provides some insulation that helps the waterbody retain its heat. Because warm water sinks in very cold freshwater, fish in these water bodies often gather in groups near the bottom. Some species, like koi and gobies, may burrow into soft sediments and go dormant like frogs and other amphibians, but most fish simply school in the deepest pools and take a "winter rest." In this resting state, fishes' hearts slow down, their needs for food and oxygen decrease, and they move about very little. About this image: White Shoal Lighthouse in northern Lake Michigan, courtesy Dick Moehl, Great Lakes Lighthouse Keepers Association. #OceanFactFriday #fish #science #biology
What do historic shipwrecks, archaeological resources, whaling, and native cultures all have in common? They are all components of our maritime history. Maritime heritage includes not only physical resources such as historic shipwrecks and prehistoric archaeological sites, but also archival documents, oral histories, and the stories of indigenous cultures that have lived and used the ocean for centuries. Stewardship of our maritime heritage means preserving and protecting these important historical, cultural, and archaeological resources within our coastal, marine, and Great Lakes waters. Maritime heritage is a way to connect all of us to the ocean, not just those living along the coast. Understanding our maritime heritage helps us explore the history of our country. Protecting maritime resources helps to preserve and further study our historic use of our nation's coastal and Great Lakes waters. #maritimeheritage #history #ocean #coast #shipwreck #exploration #archaeology
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