Ocean service scientists are heading out to sea on the NOAA ship Nancy Foster for a two-week Caribbean mission to study coral reef ecosystems and fish habitats. And NOS launches a new Flash-based online game for kids called "Waterlife; Where the Rivers Meet the Sea."
Mar 25, 2009•9 min
Twenty years ago this month, nearly 11 million gallons of crude oil spilled into Alaska's Prince William Sound after the oil tanker Exxon Valdez grounded on a reef. It was and still is the single largest spill to ever occur along the coastal U.S. Join us in this special podcast as we talk with Dr. Alan Mearns, senior staff scientist with NOAA's Office of Response and Restoration. Mearns was involved in the initial spill response for the Exxon Valdez accident, and spent years leading a project th...
Mar 13, 2009•12 min
In 2007, hundreds of birds were found stranded or dead in California's Monterey Bay, coated with an unknown yellow-green substance that was eating away at the protective covering on their feathers. A new study partly funded by NOAA reveals what happened. We talk with one of the researchers involved in the effort.
Mar 07, 2009•11 min
An early 20th century shipwreck located in a NOAA National Marine Sanctuary is added to the National Register of Historic Places. And the National Geodetic Survey celebrates the 15th anniversary of the Continuously Operating Reference Station program.
Feb 27, 2009•7 min
This week, we talk about NOAA's role in the recent U.S. Airways airplane crash on the Hudson River near Manhattan. We then head west to learn why experts from NOAA, California, Oregon, and Washington State met last week to talk about harmful algal blooms, more commonly known as 'red tides.'
Feb 20, 2009•8 min
In this special edition, we're focusing on antibiotic resistance in the marine environment and potential new cures from the sea. We'll hear about three new studies presented at a NOAA-sponsored symposium at the annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science in Chicago.
Feb 13, 2009•9 min
Users of Google Earth can now explore the depths of the ocean and discover NOAA information and images along their journey. And using ocean observations from satellites to predict the outbreak of cholera.
Feb 06, 2009•6 min
A new report looks at effects of and solutions for sea-level rise on coastal areas. And the first reported invasive lionfish is captured in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary.
Jan 30, 2009•8 min
This week, we preview a new NOS podcast premiering on Jan. 26. It's called Diving Deeper. The new audio podcast will be coming out once every two weeks, and will feature interviews with NOS scientists and experts. We think you're going to like it.
Jan 23, 2009•5 min
The new director of the National Geodetic Survey makes history. We'll tell you how. And we'll take a few minutes to chat about some new features about this Web site on this week's Making Waves.
Jan 16, 2009•7 min
This week, NOAA and partners announce a restoration plan for shoreline and habitats of the Delaware River damaged by a 2004 oil spill. The plan is now up for public comment. And we travel to the Florida Keys to find out why NOS researchers are studying lobster trap debris.
Jan 09, 2009•7 min
In this special New Years episode, we take a look back at some of the major NOS accomplishments of 2008. .
Dec 31, 2008•5 min
How does the National Ocean Service help Santa on his journey around the country? Tune in to this special holiday edition to find out.
Dec 23, 2008•6 min
A new study finds significant ocean acidification in the Caribbean, and may lead to a better understanding of how coral reefs will adapt to this harmful process. And find out what teams in coastal states around the nation are doing to help communities develop in a way that preserves water quality, protects natural areas, and improves quality of life.
Dec 19, 2008•8 min
Toxins from red tides are showing up in bottlenose dolphins in higher-than-expected amounts. We'll find out what's goin on. We'll also tell you why you should cross coral jewelry off of your shopping list this holiday season.
Dec 12, 2008•7 min
This week, we talk about a new national system of marine protected areas. Then we go to California to look at what three marine sanctuaries are up to there. The boundaries of Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, one of the three, just expanded to include a huge underwater mountain.
Dec 05, 2008•7 min
What does the National Ocean Service have to do with your Thanksgiving dinner? We bring you the answer in this special holiday edition of Making Waves.
Nov 28, 2008•5 min
This week, the head of the NOS traveled to Florida for the first-ever Coastal Cities Summit hosted by the International Ocean Institute. We also take a look at the devastating harmful algal bloom in New England. Finally, we talk about the latest case to come through the lab in the NOS Marine Forensics Program -- and we take a closer look at what this program is all about.
Nov 21, 2008•9 min
This week, we bring you news about a recent expedition to map an unknown sea floor in the Arctic. Then we travel to California, where staff of the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary work to prevent ships from striking blue whales in the Santa Barbara Channel. Finally, we head down to Texas to talk about a new digital map of underwater vegetation in the Coastal Bend region near Corpus Christi.
Nov 14, 2008•7 min
This week, we talk about NOAA's role in a new public-private partnership called the EcoZone® Green Schools Initiative. Then we look at the busiest year on record for the NOS Office of Response and Restoration, the NOAA office that responds to oil and chemical spills around the nation. Finally, we talk about a National Geodetic Survey effort to revolutionize the measurement of height by measuring gravity around the country. We wrap up the episode with a closer look at how gravity and height are r...
Nov 06, 2008•7 min
This week we bring you research on the use of sonar to track threatened sea turtles, NOAA's new Ocean Today Kiosk, and recent upgrades to the space-based global coral bleaching monitoring network. We end the show with a look at some of the things reef managers and scientists can do to protect a reef when the ocean overheats.
Oct 31, 2008•7 min