The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is a scientific agency of the United States Department of Commerce focused on the conditions of the oceans and the atmosphere. NOAA warns of dangerous weather, charts seas and skies, guides the use and protection of ocean and coastal resources, and conducts research to improve understanding and stewardship of the environment. Image File history File links File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... The United States Department of Commerce is a Cabinet department of the United States government concerned with promoting economic growth. ... Ocean (Okeanos, a Greek god of sea and water; Greek ωκεανός) covers almost three quarters (71%) of the surface of the Earth. ... Atmosphere may refer to: a celestial body atmosphere, e. ... Composite satellite image showing the progress of a hurricane weather system approaching the East Coast of the United States Weather comprises all the various phenomena that occur in the atmosphere of a planet. ...

Vision, Mission, and Goals

National Weather Service meteorologists preparing a forecast, early 20th century

NOAA's strategic vision is “an informed society that uses a comprehensive understanding of the role of the oceans, coasts, and atmosphere in the global ecosystem to make the best social and economic decisions.” National Weather Service meteorologists preparing a forecast This image has been released into the public domain by the copyright holder, its copyright has expired, or it is ineligible for copyright. ... National Weather Service meteorologists preparing a forecast This image has been released into the public domain by the copyright holder, its copyright has expired, or it is ineligible for copyright. ...

The agency's stated mission is “to understand and predict changes in the Earth’s environment and conserve and manage coastal and marine resources to meet our nation’s economic, social, and environmental needs.”

In support of its vision and mission, NOAA has adopted four distinct goals to guide its suite of operations. Each goal corresponds phenomenologically to activities focusing on ecosystems, climate, weather and water, and commerce and transportation. Specifically, NOAA operates to:

- Ensure the sustainable use of resources and balance competing uses of coastal and marine ecosystems, recognizing both their human and natural components.

- Understand changes in climate, including global climate change and the El Niño phenomenon, to ensure that we can plan and respond properly.

- Provide data and forecasts for weather and water cycle events, including storms, droughts, and floods.

- Provide weather, climate, and ecosystem information to make sure individual and commercial transportation is safe, efficient, and environmentally sound.

Purpose and Function

NOAA plays several specific roles in society, the benefits of which extend beyond the US economy and into the larger global community:

- A Supplier of Environmental Information Products. NOAA supplies information to its customers and partners pertaining to the state of the oceans and the atmosphere. This is clearly manifest in the production of weather warnings and forecasts through the National Weather Service, but NOAA’s information products extend to climate, ecosystems, and commerce as well.

- A Provider of Environmental Stewardship Services. NOAA is also the steward of US coastal and marine environments. In coordination with federal, state, local, tribal, and international authorities, NOAA manages the use of these environments, regulating fisheries and marine sanctuaries as well as protecting threatened and endangered marine species.

- A Leader in Applied Scientific Research. NOAA is intended to be a source of accurate and objective scientific information in the four particular areas of national and global importance identified above: ecosystems, climate, weather and water, and commerce and transportation.

Recognizing that it is essential that we understand the challenges that we face as part of the Earth system in order to create appropriate solutions, NOAA conducts an end-to-end sequence of activities, beginning with scientific discovery and resulting in a number of critical environmental services and products. The five "fundamental activities" are:

- Monitoring and observing Earth systems with instruments and data collection networks.

- Understanding and describing Earth systems through research and analysis of that data.

- Assessing and predicting the changes of these systems over time.

- Engaging, advising, and informing the public and partner organizations with important information.

- Managing resources for the betterment of society, economy and environment.

History and organizational structure

NOAA formed on October 3, 1970 after Richard Nixon proposed creating a new department to serve a national need "...for better protection of life and property from natural hazards...for a better understanding of the total environment...[and] for exploration and development leading to the intelligent use of our marine resources..." NOAA formed a conglomeration of three existing agencies that were among the oldest in the Federal Government. They were: The United States Coast and Geodetic Survey formed in 1807, the Weather Bureau formed in 1870, and the Bureau of Commercial Fisheries formed in 1871. NOAA was established under the Department of Commerce via the Reorganization Plan No. 4 of 1970. October 3 is the 276th day of the year (277th in Leap years). ... 1970 was a common year starting on Thursday. ... Richard Milhous Nixon (January 9, 1913 – April 22, 1994) was the thirty-seventh President of the United States, serving from 1969 to 1974. ... The United States Department of Commerce is a Cabinet department of the United States government concerned with promoting economic growth. ...

NOAA works toward its mission through these six major organizations in addition to several special program units:

• The National Weather Service
• The National Ocean Service
• The National Marine Fisheries Service
• The National Environmental Satellite, Data and Information Service
• NOAA Research
• Program Planning and Integration

In addition, NOAA research and operational activities are supported by the Nation's seventh uniformed service, the NOAA Corps. They are a commissioned officer corps of men and women who operate NOAA ships and aircraft, and serve in scientific and administrative posts. The NOAA Corps is the smallest of the seven Uniformed Services of the United States, having only approximately 300 commissioned officers. ...

National Weather Service (NWS)

The National Weather Service (NWS) is tasked with providing "weather, hydrologic, and climate forecasts and warnings for the United States, its territories, adjacent waters and ocean areas, for the protection of life and property and the enhancement of the national economy." This is done through a collection of national and regional centers, and more than 120 local weather forecast offices (WFOs). They are charged with issuing weather forecasts, advisories, watches, and warnings on a daily basis. They issue more than 734,000 weather and 850,000 river forecasts, and more than 45,000 severe weather warnings annually. NOAA data is also relevant to the issues of global warming and ozone depletion. The NWS operates NEXRAD, a nationwide network of doppler radars which can detect precipitation and atmospheric movement. Many of their products are broadcast on NOAA Weatheradio, a network of radio transmitters that broadcasts weather forecasts, severe weather statements, watches and warnings 24 hours a day. Official Logo of the National Weather Service File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... The National Weather Service (NWS) is one of the six scientific agencies that make up the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) of the United States government. ... Prediction of future events is an ancient human wish. ... A NOAA national weather forecast This article describes severe weather terminology used by the U.S. National Weather Service. ... A NOAA national weather forecast This article describes severe weather terminology used by the U.S. National Weather Service. ... Global mean surface temperatures 1856 to 2004 Mean temperature anomalies during the period 1995 to 2004 with respect to the average temperatures from 1940 to 1980 Global warming is a term used to describe the increase over time of the average temperature of the Earths atmosphere and oceans. ... Image of the largest Antarctic ozone hole ever recorded in September 2000. ... NEXRAD Radar at NSSL NEXRAD or Nexrad (the next-generation radar) is a network of Doppler radars operated by the National Weather Service, an agency of NOAA, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, in the United States. ... A wide variety of systems of interconnected components are called networks. ... Doppler radar uses the Doppler effect to return additional information from a radar system. ... Weatheradio is a special radio service available over much of North America that transmits weather warnings and forecasts 24 hours a day. ... Antenna tower of Crystal Palace transmitter, London A transmitter (sometimes abbreviated XMTR) is an electronic device which with the aid of an antenna propagates an electromagnetic signal such as radio, television, or other telecommunications. ... Broadcast could refer to: Broadcast, an electronica musical group broadcasting, the distribution of audio and video signals Broadcast address, an IP address allowing information to be sent to all machines on a given subnet. ... A NOAA national weather forecast This article describes severe weather terminology used by the U.S. National Weather Service. ...

External NWS links

• National Weather Service
• NOAA Radar images
• Ocean Prediction Center
• Hydrometeorological Prediction Center
• Aviation Weather
• National Hurricane Center
• Storm Prediction Center

National Ocean Service (NOS) and National Geodetic Survey (NGS)

National Ocean Service (NOS) was formed from the old Coast and Geodetic Survey, and in turn created a new division called the National Geodetic Survey (NGS). The NOS protects 12 National Marine Sanctuaries and is an advocate for coastal and ocean stewardship. It also introduced electronic nautical charts which they combine with GPS to enhance the safety and efficiency of navigation of U.S. waterways. The NGS specifies latitude, longitude, height, scale, gravity, and orientation throughout the United States. Aviation safety, in particular the orientation of runways, depends on this system. An example of the work the NGS does is the work they did taking measurements of the Washington Monument. When it was covered in scaffolding for renovations in 1999, NGS surveyors confirmed the height and stability of the structure. Over fifty GPS satellites such as this NAVSTAR have been launched since 1978. ... Latitude, denoted by the Greek letter φ, gives the location of a place on Earth north or south of the Equator. ... Map of Earth showing curved lines of longitude Longitude, sometimes denoted by the Greek letter λ, describes the location of a place on Earth east or west of a north-south line called the Prime Meridian. ... Height is a measurement of the distance from the bottom to the top of something which is upright. ... This article is in need of attention. ... It has been suggested that Law of universal gravitation be merged into this article or section. ... Orientation can refer to different things. ... Washington Monument The Washington Monument usually refers to the large white-colored obelisk in the center of the National Mall in Washington, D.C., built as a memorial to George Washington, the first President of the United States and the leader of the revolutionary Continental Army, which won independence from... 1999 is a common year starting on Friday Anno Domini (or the Current Era), and was designated the International Year of Older Persons by the United Nations. ... Surveying is concerned with the application of mathematics and physics in obtaining accurate measurements for the determination of the position of points on the Earths surface. ...

External NOS and NGS links

• National Ocean Service (NOS)
• National Geodetic Survey (NGS)

National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service (NESDIS)

NOAA engineer at work

The National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service (NESDIS) was created by the NOAA to operate and manage the United States environmental satellite programs, and manage the data gathered by the NWS and other government agencies and departments. Data collected by the NWS, U.S. Navy, U.S. Air Force, the Federal Aviation Administration, and meteorological services around the world, are housed at the National Climatic Data Center in Asheville, North Carolina. NESDIS also operates the National Geophysical Data Center (NGDC) in Boulder, Colorado, the National Oceanographic Data Center (NODC) in Silver Spring, Maryland, the National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC) and the National Coastal Data Development Center (NCDDC) which are used internationally by environmental scientists. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (480x720, 370 KB)NOAA engineer at work, late-mid-20th century From U.S. Department of Commerce Photographic Services http://www. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (480x720, 370 KB)NOAA engineer at work, late-mid-20th century From U.S. Department of Commerce Photographic Services http://www. ... The United States Navy (USN) is the branch of the United States armed forces responsible for naval operations. ... Seal of the Air Force. ... The Federal Aviation Administration is the entity of the United States government which regulates and oversees all aspects of civil aviation in the U.S. // Activities Along with the European Joint Aviation Authorities, the FAA is one of the two main agencies worldwide responsible for the certification of new aircraft. ... The U.S. National Climatic Data Center (NCDC) in Asheville, North Carolina is the worlds largest active archive of weather data. ... Asheville City Hall. ... The National Geophysical Data Center (NGDC) provides scientific stewardship, products and services for geophysical data describing the solid earth, marine, and solar-terrestrial environment, as well as earth observations from space. ... Pearl Street Mall in Downtown Boulder Boulder (40°1′ N 105°16′ W, MST) is a city located in Boulder County, Colorado, USA. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 94,673. ... The National Oceanographic Data Center (NODC) manages the acquisition, ingest processing, quality control and long-term preservation of oceanographic data. ... Downtown Silver Spring as seen from downtown Bethesda. ... The National Snow and Ice Data Center, or NSIDC, is a United States information and referral center in support of polar and cryospheric research. ... Environmental science is the science of the interactions between the physical, chemical, and biological components of the environment, including their effects on all types of organisms but more often refers to human impact on the environment. ...

NESDIS also runs the:

1. Office of Systems Development
2. Office of Satellite Operations
3. Office of Satellite Data Processing & Distribution
4. Office of Research & Applications
5. NPOESS Integrated Program Office
6. International & Interagency Affairs Office

The service operates and manages many geosynchronous satellites. In 1975 Tiros-1 (also known as GEOS-1), NOAA's first owned and operated geostationary satellite was launched. In 1983 NOAA assumed operational responsibility for LANDSAT satellite system. In 1984 the Tropical Ocean-Global Atmosphere program (TOGA) program began. A geosynchronous satellite is a satellite whose orbital speed equals the Earths rotational speed. ... 1983 is a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Landsat program is the longest running enterprise for acquisition of imagery of Earth from space. ... The Tropical Ocean Global Atmosphere program is a component of the World Climate Research Program (WCRP) aimed specifically at the prediction of climate phenomena on time scales of months to years. ...

In 1977 the Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory (PMEL) deployed the first successful moored equatorial current meter - the beginning of the Tropical Atmosphere/Ocean (TAO) array. In 1979 NOAA's first polar-orbiting environmental satellite was launched. 1977 was a common year starting on Saturday (the link is to a full 1977 calendar). ... The Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory (PMEL) is a laboratory in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)/Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR). ... This page refers to the year 1979. ...

External NESDIS Links

• National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service home page

National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS)

The National Marine Fisheries Service, also known as NOAA Fisheries, is the direct descendant of the U.S. Commission of Fish and Fisheries, which was initiated in 1871 to protect, study, manage and restore fish. The NMFS has a marine fisheries research lab in Woods Hole, Massachusetts and is home to one of NOAA's five fisheries science centers. 1871 was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... Groups Conodonta Hyperoartia Petromyzontidae (lampreys) Pteraspidomorphi (early jawless fish) Thelodonti Anaspida Cephalaspidomorphi (early jawless fish) Galeaspida Pituriaspida Osteostraci Gnathostomata (jawed vertebrates) Placodermi Chondrichthyes (cartilaginous fish) Acanthodii Osteichthyes (bony fish) Actinopterygii (ray-finned fish) Sarcopterygii (lobe-finned fish) Actinistia (coelacanths) Dipnoi (lungfish) A fish is a poikilothermic (cold-blooded)* water-dwelling... A lobster boat unloading its catch in Ilfracombe harbour, North Devon, England A fishery (plural: fisheries) is an organized effort by humans to catch fish or other aquatic species, an activity known as fishing. ... Woods Hole is a census-designated place and village within the town of Falmouth in Barnstable County, Massachusetts, at the extreme southwest corner of Cape Cod, near the island of Marthas Vineyard, and is the site of three famous scientific institutions: Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, the Marine Biological Laboratory...

Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR)

NOAA's research, conducted through the Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR), is the driving force behind NOAA environmental products and services that protect life and property and promote sustainable economic growth. Research, conducted in OAR laboratories and by extramural programs, focuses on enhancing our understanding of environmental phenomena such as tornadoes, hurricanes, climate variability, solar flares, changes in the ozone, El Niño/La Niña events, fisheries productivity, ocean currents, deep sea thermal vents, and coastal ecosystem health. NOAA research also develops innovative technologies and observing systems.

The NOAA Research network consists of 12 internal research laboratories, extramural research at 30 Sea Grant university and research programs, six undersea research centers, a research grants program through the Office of Global Programs, and 13 cooperative institutes with academia. Through NOAA and its academic partners, thousands of scientists, engineers, technicians, and graduate students participate in furthering our knowledge of natural phenomena that affect the lives of us all. The United States of America National Sea Grant College Program encourages wise stewardship of marine resources through research, education, outreach and technology transfer. ...

External OAR Links

• Oceanic and Atmospheric Research website

Program Planning and Integration (PPI)

The Office of Program Planning and Integration was established in June 2002 as the focus for a new corporate management culture at NOAA. PPI was created to address the needs to...

- Foster strategic management among NOAA Line and Staff Offices, Goal Teams, Programs, and Councils,

- Support planning activities through greater opportunities for active participation of employees, stakeholders, and partners,

- Build decision support systems based on the goals and outcomes set in NOAA’s strategic plan, and

- Guide managers and employees on program and performance management, the National Environmental Policy Act, and socioeconomic analysis.

External PPI Links

• Program Planning and Integration home page
• Strategic Planning Office home page
• NOAA Economics & Social Science home page
• NEPA Compliance home page

External links

• NOAA
• NOAA Timeline
• NOAA History