Category: Ocean Science

Assessing the Global Climate in June 2024

7/20/2024 - By noaa.gov. 13 consecutive months of record-warm global temperatures and the second-lowest June Antarctic sea ice extent Highlights: Temperatures were above average over much of the globe with Africa, Asia and South America having their warmest June on record. Sea surface temperatures were record warm for the 15th consecutive month.… SEE MORE

The Caribbean has a Defense System Against Deadly Hurricanes — but it’s Vanishing

7/12/2024 - By Benji Jones. Hurricane Beryl and other superstorms would be much more dangerous without these iconic ocean animals. Hurricane season has begun, and it’s off to a frightening start. On Wednesday morning, Beryl — a Category 4 storm and the first named hurricane of the year — was churning toward… SEE MORE

A depiction of the Advanced Circulation Model used for NOAA's Coastal Ocean Reanalysis. The gray box shows the focus region of the assessment — the U.S. East Coast, Gulf of Mexico, and Carribean Sea. Credit: Cooperative Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Research, School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology, University of Hawai’i at Mānoa.

NOAA Validates Sea Level Data for Future Flood Risk

7/1/2024 - By NOAA's Ocean Service. More than 40 years of data verified to accurately assess flood-risk changes on Atlantic, Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico coasts. A team of NOAA and university sea level rise experts completed a study of more than four decades of water level data, validating foundational research for… SEE MORE

A Class of Ozone-Depleting Chemicals is Declining, Thanks to the Montreal Protocol

7/1/2024 - By research.noaa.gov. New research by a team including current and former NOAA-affiliated scientists has shown that atmospheric concentrations of a class of ozone-depleting chemicals used as refrigerants, foam blowing agents and solvents peaked in 2021 and are now beginning to decline as nations comply with restrictions called for by the… SEE MORE

Looming Deadlines for Coastal Resilience

6/29/2024 - By ucsusa.org. Rising Seas, Disruptive Tides, and Risks to Coastal Infrastructure. Climate change is rapidly worsening tidal flooding, threatening essential and costly coastal infrastructure that millions of people depend on. Research led by the Union of Concerned Scientists shows that between now and 2050, climate change–driven sea level rise will… SEE MORE

MARILAO, PHILIPPINES - MAY 04, 2024: Workers prepare to dump blocks of ice at a pool amid extreme heat in Marilao, Bulacan province. Sweltering conditions strained power grids, sparked health warnings, and left residents desperate for ways to stay cool. May 2024 was the world's warmest May on record. (Image credit: Ezra Acayan/Getty Images)

May 2024 was Earth’s Warmest May on Record

6/24/2024 - By noaa.gov. The globe saw its 12th-consecutive month of record warmth. Last month marked a full year of record-high global temperatures, with May 2024 ranking as the warmest May on record. Earth’s ocean temperatures also set a record high for the 14th month in a row, according to data and… SEE MORE

As container ships continue to grow in size and ports — like the Port of Oakland in California — grow more congested by the year, NOAA plays an increasingly critical role in U.S. marine transportation. NOAA services and products improve the efficiency of ports and harbors, promote safety, and help to ensure the protection of coastal marine resources. (Image credit: NOAA National Ocean Service)

U.S. Marine Economy Continues Upward Trend

6/22/2024 - By noaa.gov. $476 billion contribution helps build a ‘greater, more Climate-Ready Nation’. The American marine economy continued to bolster the nation in 2022 as demonstrated by increased sales and jobs, according to the most recent statistics from the annual Marine Economy Satellite Account (MESA) released by two Department of Commerce agencies —… SEE MORE

Silhouette of a person at sunset during a heatwave. (Image credit: iStock)

Heat Exhaustion or Heat Stroke? Know the Signs of Heat Illness

6/19/2024 - By noaa.gov. If you are spending any time outside this summer, chances are you’ll be exposed to a lot of sun, high temperatures and humidity. How much heat can a person safely endure? It depends. Much less visible and dramatic than hurricanes, floods and tornadoes, heat is considered the silent… SEE MORE

A photo of USGS vessel "Hypoxia Bandit" on the Mississippi River in Vicksburg in early 2024. USGS scientists are using a US-D-96 sampler to collect sediment and water-quality samples from the river. (Image credit: USGS Lower Mississippi Gulf Water Science Center)

NOAA forecasts above-average summer ‘dead zone’ in Gulf of Mexico

6/18/2024 - By noaa.gov. Low oxygen conditions expected to impact 5,827 square-mile area. NOAA is forecasting an above-average summer “dead zone” in the Gulf of Mexico covering approximately 5,827 square miles — an area roughly the size of Connecticut. The dead zone, or hypoxic area, is an area of low oxygen that… SEE MORE

Are the Great Lakes Really Inland Seas?

6/16/2024 - By Gemma Tarlach. Well, yes. And no. Actually, it depends on where you stand, in more ways than one. the water reared slammed onto the sand like an ambush predator. Then it withdrew, and came back. Again and again the surf attacked the beach, and exploded over a nearby concrete… SEE MORE