The foggy wave-torn coast of northern California may not seem like a haven for coral at first glance, but NOAA researchers say they’ve recently discovered a treasure trove of new deep sea habitats in the Gulf of Farallones Sanctuary, not far from San Francisco. The area is a melting pot for deep sea corals, sponges, [...]
Newly discovered habitats in NOAA’s Gulf of the Farallones Sanctuary are an underwater melting pot for deep sea corals, sponges, rockfish, and other species. A partnership of federal and independent scientists found the rocky reef habitats in October in an area with depths reaching 457 meters, where such corals and sponges had not been seen [...]
The dolphin was coming straight up out of the water, making pitiful moans and then going back down, slowly swimming around the Bushy Park Boat Landing. Cathy Murphy spotted it Friday. It looked like something might be wrapped around its tail, dragging it down. “ We’ve watched dolphins for years, and we knew something was wrong,” she [...]
The 2012 NOS Diversity Day and Employee Recognition award ceremony highlighted several NCCOS staff for their exceptional contributions to the NOS mission. Dr. Elizabeth (Beth) Turner received an NOS Employee of the Year Award for her nearly 20-year effort developing, enhancing, and sustaining NOAA’s ecological forecasting capabilities. Erik Ebert of Beaufort, NC garnered a Team [...]
As part of a formal agreement with the International Atomic Energy Agency, two researchers from the National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science visited Muscat, Oman this week as “IAEA Experts.” The seminar provided the 15 participants with an overview of algae and toxin sampling techniques and visual identification of algae species. Next March, the Americans return [...]
An extensive Karenia brevis algae bloom off of the Florida coast prompted NOAA’s National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science to provide the state funding to pay for offshore monitoring of the bloom’s development, movement, and toxicity. This can help the state more accurately predict its magnitude and movement of the bloom as well as its impacts. The bloom started in [...]
It’s been almost a year since 150 young harbor seals died unexpectedly and washed up beaches in New Hampshire, southern Maine and northern Massachusetts. The New England Aquarium has taken this sad anniversary as an opportunity to share information with Seacoast communities about the cause of the deaths, ongoing monitoring efforts and to notify towns [...]
From August 26 to September 6, Schmidt Ocean Institute Fellow Peter Etnoyer is serving as chief scientist aboard the R/V Falkor, owned by the institute, as part of sea trials for the new vessel and its equipment. Researchers and crew will employ the Global Explorer MK3 remotely operated vehicle and its state-of-the-art 3-D video and biological [...]