Author: parambhatia51

Fish swimming around a colorful coral reef

Optics Technology: At the Heart of Marine Research

2/26/2025 - By NOAA Fisheries Videos and images from advanced underwater cameras are a critical component of collecting data. We use this information to make informed management decisions for marine species and habitat. At NOAA Fisheries, optics technology plays a major role in gathering data to better understand our marine and coastal… SEE MORE

Gray Whales on the Rebound: Signs of Hope Despite Challenges

2/24/2025 - By fisheries.noaa.gov. North Pacific gray whale population increases after declines. California's gray whales are an iconic and beloved species, visible to spectators even from shore during their migrations. The whales feed up in the Arctic and sub-Arctic waters in the North Pacific, then migrate all the way down the coast of… SEE MORE

Image Credits: The Pacific Palisades Fire near Malibu, California, which started on January 7, 2025. Adobe stock photo.

The Weather and Climate Influences on the January 2025 Fires Around Los Angeles

2/22/2025 - By Rebecca Lindsey. Highlights A trifecta of fire-friendly climate conditions set the stage for the January 2025 fires: back-to-back wet winters that boosted vegetation, a record-dry fall, and an extremely strong Santa Ana wind event. By one estimate, record-low fall precipitation had a bigger influence on the exceptionally low vegetation… SEE MORE

Navigating Safely Around a Boat Being Towed

2/20/2025 - By Jim Hendricks. A vessel under tow presents a unique boating safety situation. Learn what you should, and should not, do if you encounter it. A floating traffic jam quickly developed as we joined a line of other boats, not unlike a solemn funeral procession, through a narrow channel behind… SEE MORE

World Record Cobia Caught Off Australia

2/18/2025 - By sportfishing.com. The 175-pounder outweighs the current IGFA record by 40 pounds. A 175-plus-pound record cobia — the largest caught on rod and reel ever recorded — wouldn’t have made it to the boat if the angler had listened to his captain. “It was a great catch by the young… SEE MORE

‘Life-Threatening Cold’ Expected as Polar Vortex Stretches Across U.S. After Deadly Weekend Flooding

2/16/2025 - By apnews.com. Harsh weather moved west on Monday as a polar vortex was expected to grip the Rockies and the northern Plains after winter storms pummeled the eastern U.S. over the weekend, killing at least 10 people, including nine victims in Kentucky who died during flooding from heavy rains. The National Weather Service warned… SEE MORE

The Bowheads of Baffin Island

2/14/2025 - By Tyee Bridge. New tools—from drones to crossbows to suction-cup cameras—are helping researchers understand bowhead whales in the Canadian Arctic. Bowhead whales are fascinating creatures—even by whale standards. Named for their arched mouths, which happen to be the largest maws of any animal⁠, these whales are now also believed to… SEE MORE

Image Credits: NOAA works in Washington's Snohomish River estuary to restore habitat for salmon and other fish species. Credit: NOAA Fisheries

5 Lovely Reasons Why We “Heart Estuaries”

2/12/2025 - By fisheries.noaa.gov. Celebrating #IHeartEstuaries is a popular way to show your love to these bodies of water where rivers meet the sea. 1. Estuaries Are Nurseries of the Sea Estuaries are often called the “nurseries of the sea,” because so many animals love to reproduce and spend the early part of… SEE MORE

New Research Shows a Quarter of Freshwater Animals are Threatened with Extinction

2/10/2025 - By Christina Larson. Nearly a quarter of animals living in rivers, lakes and other freshwater sources are threatened with extinction, according to new research published Wednesday. “Huge rivers like the Amazon can appear mighty, but at the same time freshwater environments are very fragile,” said study co-author Patricia Charvet, a biologist at… SEE MORE

Scientists Solve the Mystery of Sea Turtles’ ‘Lost Years’

2/9/2025 - By Christina Larson. Using satellite trackers, scientists have discovered the whereabouts of young sea turtles during a key part of their lives. “We’ve had massive data gaps about the early baby to toddler life stages of sea turtles,” said Kate Mansfield, a marine scientist at the University of Central Florida. “This part… SEE MORE