“When neither sun nor stars appeared for many a day, they gave up hope. This was a terrible handicap to them because these ancient navigators had no compass nor any other instrument. The only way they ...

Members of NOAA’s National Ocean Service, NOAA’s National Geodetic Survey, NOAA Communications and the NOAA Studio Team stand with a ceremonial survey mark in front of the Mount Rushmore National ...

These record water levels may not be the end of the story for California’s coastal communities. NOAA predicts above-normal high tides will occur from November 22-27, 2026, and December 22-26, 2026, ...

The Portuguese man o’ war is recognized by its balloon-like float, which may be blue, violet, or pink and rises up to six inches above the water line. Image credit: Elizabeth Condon, National Science ...

Active "smoker" hydrothermal vent chimneys about 9 meters tall are found deep in the Mariana Arc region in the Western Pacific Ocean. Credit: Pacific Ring of Fire 2004 Expedition. NOAA Office of Ocean ...

The port of Long Beach is the largest port complex in the nation and the ninth busiest port worldwide. NOAA products and services supporting the Port of Long Beach precision navigation project are ...

A Pacific sand lance, shown here, employs a unique strategy of burrowing into sand to rest and conserve energy, and to avoid predation. The nature of fish "sleep" is an area of active research. While ...

Nutrient pollution is the process where too many nutrients, mainly nitrogen and phosphorus, are added to bodies of water and can act like fertilizer, causing excessive growth of algae. This process is ...

This animation shows the dynamic process of how a coral atoll forms. Corals (represented in tan and purple) begin to settle and grow around an oceanic island forming a fringing reef. It can take as ...

Portland, Oregon, located at the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia Rivers, connects city growthand the health of its rivers. In addition to efforts to build compactly within existing ...

On both coasts and on thousands of beaches, the ocean attracts surfers from around the world. Did you know that the last time you spent a night in a beachfront bed and breakfast or enjoyed a seafood ...

Seas are found on the margins of the ocean and are partially enclosed by land. Here, you can see that the Bering Sea is part of the Pacific Ocean. Many people use the terms "ocean" and "sea" ...