NOAA Ocean Podcast

Healthy coastal habitat is not only important for seafood and recreation, it also plays an important role in reducing climate change. In this podcast, we talk with NOAA environmental scientist Ariana Sutton-Grier about Coastal Blue Carbon. Episode permanent link and show notes

A NOAA "shipwreck detective" talks about a two-year study to locate and document shipwrecks in Gulf of the Farallones National Marine Sanctuary and the surrounding area. Episode permanent link and show notes

In this episode, we explore ocean acidification and coral bleaching with two NOAA experts. Learn about the stresses our reefs face—and what's being done about it. Episode permanent link and show notes

As sea ice continues to shrink in the Arctic, we’re likely to see more shipping, more oil exploration, more tourism, and more fishing. And all of this activity means that in the future, we’ll probably going have to deal with an oil spill in this remote region. So how do we prepare for that? The Coast Guard cutter Healy, a 420-foot-long icebreaker, is now heading north in answer to this question. T...

The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is one of many areas in the ocean where marine debris naturally concentrates because of ocean currents. In this episode, an expert from the NOAA Marine Debris Program explains what a garbage patch is and isn't, what we know and don't know, and what we can do about this ocean-sized problem. Episode permanent link and show notes

Coastal Blue Carbon. Heard of it? A NOAA environmental scientist explains how certain small coastal areas play an outsized role in reducing climate change. Episode permanent link and show notes

Prior to the Deepwater Horizon spill in the Gulf of Mexico, the Exxon Valdez was the largest spill to ever occur in U.S. coastal waters. In this episode, we talk with NOAA marine biologist Gary Shigenaka to find out how marine life is faring today in Prince William Sound, Alaska. We also look at lessons we might learn from this environmental disaster in light of growing oil exploration and shippin...

Tides and currents data...we all want it, but what goes into collecting and making this data available for us to use. Go behind the scenes in this latest Diving Deeper episode with NOAA oceanographer Pat Burke from the Center for Operational Oceanographic Products and Services. Episode permanent link and show notes

What is the Intracoastal Waterway? In this podcast, join Captain Shep Smith and Dawn Forsythe as we learn about this approximately 3,000 mile route that supports commercial and recreational boating along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts. Episode permanent link and show notes

Lionfish are beautiful creatures, but are having a negative impact on coastal ecosystems. Get answers to a few common lionfish questions in this excerpt of a Diving Deeper podcast interview with NOAA lionfish expert James Morris. Episode permanent link and show notes

From fishing to shipping to energy, we depend on our ocean in order to do so many things every single day. Today's podcast talks about planning ocean uses with Cindy Fowler from the NOAA Coastal Services Center. Episode permanent link and show notes

Eighteen years ago, on January 6, 1996, NOAA issued its final rules for conducting Natural Resource Damage Assessments for oil spills. Given this 18 year anniversary, today on Diving Deeper Shorts we will revisit our interview with Tom Brosnan on restoring natural resources injured by oil spills or hazardous waste sites. Episode permanent link and show notes

Rising waters can spell trouble for coastal areas. The impacts of high tide flooding can range from longer commute times to business closures and construction delays. NOAA plays a vital role in helping communities prepare for and respond to flooding threats. This episode features a panel of experts from NOAA’s Center for Operational Oceanographic Products and Services. We’re joined by oceanographe...

Marine debris is a large and global problem. Plastics, metals, rubber, fishing gear, and other lost and discarded items enter our ocean, Great Lakes, waterways, and coastal areas every day. This challenging problem can cause negative impacts to wildlife, the environment, and the economy. In this episode, we chat with our expert, Sophie Maginnes, communication specialist with NOAA’s Marine Debris P...

Since 2007, NOAA’s National Ocean Service has been working to update the National Spatial Reference System. This huge project will modernize the system for measuring the horizontal positions and vertical elevations of the United States and its territories. During the course of this work, NOAA scientists realized that the heights of Colorado’s famous “Fourteeners” — or mountains with peak elevation...

Fifteen years ago, NOAA played a critical role in the initial response, assessment, and development of a restoration plan following the Deepwater Horizon oil spill — the largest offshore oil spill in U.S. history. In this episode, we’re joined by experts Doug Helton and Lisa DiPinto from the National Ocean Service’s Office of Response and Restoration to discuss the earliest moments of the response...

Attention beachgoers! Don’t let ocean and shoreline hazards keep you from enjoying your time at the beach this summer; instead, boost your “Blue IQ” through this episode. Listen to ocean and coastal safety expert Bruckner Chase discuss common beach hazards and best practices to keep you and your loved ones safe in the surf. NOAA Ocean Podcast: Episode 81 - Boost Your Blue IQ

Harmful algal blooms occur when an overgrowth of algae produces toxins in a body of water, affecting fish, shellfish, marine mammals, birds, and even people. Ecological forecasting is an important tool for protection from these blooms. Join this coastal conversation with Steve Kibler, an oceanographer with the National Ocean Service, and Kasey Jo Wright, an environmental technician with the Kodiak...

When disaster strikes our waters, whether natural or man-made, the NOAA Navigation Response Team is ready. With a fleet of small survey vessels, our scientists and mariners utilize cutting-edge technology and expertise to map danger zones and ensure the safety of commercial shipping. NOAA Ocean Podcast: Episode 83 - Mapping the Way After a Disaster: The NOAA Navigation Response Team