NOAA

A series of cleanup expeditions to the Katmai National Park in Alaska have been announced. The effort is a collaboration between the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Marine Debris Program and the Ocean Plastics Recovery Project. The expeditions will be the most extensive marine debris cleanup efforts conducted in Katmai…

The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration recently shined a light on the impact of Marine debris on the lives of people. Sadly, it’s not only sea birds, seals, and polar bears that suffer from marine debris. Human lives and livelihoods can also be adversely impacted and, in some cases,…

The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is seeking comments from the public on a draft environmental impact statement (EIS) and management plan for a proposed National Marine Sanctuary along New York State’s eastern Lake Ontario and the Thousand Islands region of the St. Lawrence River. According to a…

It’s a good thing the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has plenty of time to prepare for its next generation of polar-orbiting weather satellites — because the changes the agency is contemplating are dramatic. Instead of flying satellites the size of pickup trucks like the current Joint Polar Satellite System…

The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has announced that its new head will be internationally acclaimed scientist Richard (Rick) W. Spinrad. Spinard was confirmed to his role as the 11th NOAA administrator by the US Senate, which also confirmed him as the undersecretary of commerce for oceans and atmosphere. Spinard…

by Debra Werner — June 25, 2021 NOAA’s GOES-West satellite captured the above GeoColor image of massive wildfire smoke plumes billowing from California and areas of the Rocky Mountains on Aug. 19, 2020. To the north, a mid-latitude cyclone spins over the Gulf of Alaska while Hurricane Genevieve continues its…

Saildrone While we can usually forecast where a hurricane will travel, it’s hard to predict how strong a storm will get. That’s why NOAA and Saildrone are sending a fleet of seafaring drones into the Atlantic ocean this hurricane season. The drones will sail headfirst into hurricanes, taking measurements that…

by Scott Pace — June 18, 2021 Rather than move forward with efforts to work with industry on space traffic management solutions, the Commerce Department is funding studies of topics that in some cases were addressed in a report last year by NAPA. Credit: SpaceNews illustration As demonstrated by the…

by Jeff Foust — June 17, 2021 Rick Spinrad, nominee to be NOAA administrator, and Pam Melroy, nominee to be NASA deputy administrator, appear at a May 20 confirmation hearing. The Senate confirmed both nominations June 17. Credit: NASA/Bill Ingalls Updated 6 p.m. Eastern with NASA and Coalition for Deep…

The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has extended an ongoing survey to find out what divers and snorkelers spend when they dive coral reefs around the country. NOAA originally did a similar survey in 2019 in Hawaii and this year expanded it to not only Hawaii but also American…