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The U.S. government is closed. This site will not be updated; however, NOAA websites and social media channels necessary to protect lives and property will be maintained. To learn more, visit commerce.gov. 

For the latest forecasts and critical weather information, visit weather.gov.

Projects Explorer

The NCCOS Project Explorer provides a snapshot of our official, discrete lines of research.
Filter by research category, region, and/or contact.

Seafloor Characterization of the U.S. Caribbean

benthic habitat, Chesapeake Bay, Habitat Mapping, john.christensen@noaa.gov, LiDAR, Marine Spatial Ecology, multibeam, Puerto Rico, seafloor map, tim.battista@noaa.gov, U.S. States and Territories, U.S. Virgin Islands, Waterbodies
Since 2004, we have been conducting seafloor mapping of the U.S. Caribbean, to fill critical informational gaps to support improved management measures in the U.S ...
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Seafloor Substrate Mapping and Model Validation in the New York Wind Energy Area

Atlantic Ocean, fish distribution, Habitat Mapping, john.christensen@noaa.gov, Marine Spatial Ecology, New York, New York wind energy, NY call area for wind farm, Offshore Wind, Offshore Wind Master Plan, seafloor habitat, seafloor mapping, seafloor mapping and validation, seafloor substrate mapping, Seafloor Substrate Mapping and Model Validation in the New York Wind Energy Area, tim.battista@noaa.gov, wind farm
In support of the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, NCCOS characterized seafloor habitats and fish distributions in coastal waters of New York. The New York ...
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Seasonal Forecasting of Karenia brevis Red Tide Blooms in the Eastern Gulf of Mexico

Florida, Forecasting, Gulf of America (formerly Gulf of Mexico), HABHRCA, harmful algal bloom, Harmful Algal Bloom Detection and Forecasting, Karenia brevis, Other Topics, quay.dortch@noaa.gov, Research, Sponsored Research, Stressor Impacts and Mitigation, Technology Transfer, U.S. States and Territories, Waterbodies
This project is developing modeling tools to improve short term and seasonal predictions of toxic red tide Karenia brevis blooms in the Gulf of Mexico ...
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Setting Shared Goals for South Florida’s Marine and Estuarine Ecosystems (MARES)

Assessing Vulnerability and Resilience, coastal marine ecosystem, fisheries, Florida, Gulf of America (formerly Gulf of Mexico), kimberly.puglise@noaa.gov, Marine Spatial Ecology, Other Topics, Regional Ecosystem Science, Social Science, Sponsored Research, Stressor Impacts and Mitigation, U.S. States and Territories, Waterbodies
We facilitated a process to identify the characteristics and key regulating processes of a sustainable South Florida coastal marine ecosystem. Using the best available science ...
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Shallow Water Hypoxia: Tipping the Balance for Individual Animals, Populations, and Ecosystems

Biological Effects of Contaminants and Nutrients, Chesapeake Bay, CHRP, Coastal Change, david.kidwell@noaa.gov, Hypoxia, hypoxia, Stressor Impacts and Mitigation, Vulnerability and Risk Assessment, Waterbodies
We are investigating the impacts of extreme daily fluctuations in oxygen and pH on fish and invertebrates in the Chesapeake Bay. The modeling tools we ...
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Shallow-water Benthic Habitat Mapping of Northeast Puerto Rico and Culebra Island

Caribbean Sea, coral reef, Habitat Mapping, john.christensen@noaa.gov, Marine Spatial Ecology, Puerto Rico, seafloor mapping, seaflor, tim.battista@noaa.gov, U.S. States and Territories, Waterbodies
We developed benthic habitat maps for shallow coral reef areas (< 35 m) around Northeast Puerto Rico and Culebra Island. These maps are helping scientists ...
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Sharing Simple and Fast Algal Toxin Detection Tests with Developing Countries

Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea, Harmful Algal Bloom Detection and Forecasting, Pacific Ocean, South Carolina, Stressor Impacts and Mitigation, tina.mikulski@noaa.gov, U.S. States and Territories, Waterbodies
Toxins produced by harmful algae accumulate in shellfish, causing human illness and marine animal mortalities. We have developed a rapid, cost-effective test that measures algal ...
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Shellfish Aquaculture and Payment for Ecosystem Services in Chesapeake Bay

aquaculture, Coastal Aquaculture Siting and Sustainability, eutrophication, Hypoxia, Marine Spatial Ecology, Maryland, shellfish, Stressor Impacts and Mitigation, suzanne.bricker@noaa.gov, U.S. States and Territories, Virginia
With U.S. capture fisheries in decline, aquaculture is being seen as a way to increase the domestic supply of seafood. However, total aquaculture production in ...
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Shellfish Aquaculture in the NERRs: Ecosystem Services

Atlantic Ocean, Coastal Aquaculture Siting and Sustainability, Marine Spatial Ecology, North Carolina, suzanne.bricker@noaa.gov, U.S. States and Territories, Waterbodies
We evaluated the potential ecosystem services and impacts of newly established oyster farms in intertidal and subtidal coastal areas of North Carolina to help inform ...
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Shellfish Killers: An Optimized Early Warning Program to Mitigate HAB Impacts on Shellfish in the Pacific Northwest

Akashiwo sanguinea, harmful algal bloom, Harmful Algal Bloom Detection and Forecasting, marc.suddleson@noaa.gov, MERHAB, Other Topics, Pacific Ocean, Protoceratium reticulatum, Puget Sound, Sponsored Research, Stressor Impacts and Mitigation, U.S. States and Territories, Washington, Waterbodies
We are collecting data to understand the impacts of shellfish-killing algae and their toxins on aquaculture farms and wild populations and to develop a warning ...
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Shifts in Seagrass Species Composition: A Sentinel Indicator for Sea Level Rise and Climate Change

climate change, Coastal Change, Ecological and Biogeographic Assessments, Marine Spatial Ecology, North Carolina, Sea Level Rise, sea level rise, seagrass, Seagrasses, U.S. States and Territories
We are using aerial and satellite imagery, field surveys, and tank experiments to answer questions regarding climate change impacts to the coastal seagrass beds of ...
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Shoreline Habitat Types and Erosion Rates on Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune

Atlantic Ocean, Camp Lejeune, carolyn.currin@noaa.gov, Coastal Change, North Carolina, salt marsh, Sea Level Rise, sea level rise, shoreline erosion, U.S. States and Territories, Vulnerability and Risk Assessment, Waterbodies
We determined rates of shoreline change in the New River Estuary and Intracoastal Waterway adjacent to Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune over the past 50 ...
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Social Values of Ecosystem Services in Marine Protected Areas for Management Decision-Making

Assessing Human Use, chloe.fleming@noaa.gov, Ecosystem Services Valuation, Georgia, Social Science, Texas, theresa.goedeke@noaa.gov, U.S. States and Territories
We explored the connections between humans and the places they live, work, and play. Specifically, we looked at how people use, how they value, and ...
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Southeast Bering Sea Carrying Capacity Regional Ecosystem Study

Alaska, Bering Sea, Coastal Change, elizabeth.turner@noaa.gov, Marine Spatial Ecology, Regional Ecosystem Science, U.S. States and Territories, Waterbodies
Approximately forty percent of total U.S. commercial fishery landings by weight come from the Bering Sea. In response to declining Walleye pollock abundance in the ...
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Southeast Deep Coral Initiative (SEDCI): Exploring Deep-Sea Coral Ecosystems off the Southeast U.S.

Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea, Coral, Gulf of America (formerly Gulf of Mexico), Habitat Mapping, Marine Spatial Ecology, peter.etnoyer@noaa.gov, Waterbodies
In 2016, NOAA’s Deep-Sea Coral Research and Technology Program started a four-year initiative to study deep-sea coral and sponge ecosystems off the Southeast U.S., a ...
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Spatial Analysis of Groundfish to Support Oregon’s Territorial Sea Plan

charles.menza@noaa.gov, Ecological and Biogeographic Assessments, groundfish, Habitat Mapping, john.christensen@noaa.gov, Marine Spatial Ecology, Oregon, Pacific Ocean, spatial analysis, U.S. States and Territories, Waterbodies
Coastal planners need accurate and accessible information on marine resources to make good management decisions. We analyzed groundfish trawl surveys to map groundfish abundance and ...
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Spatial Bibliography of Deep-water Exploration and Research in Alaska: an Intra-NOAA Collaboration

david.moe.nelson@noaa.gov, jennifer.le@noaa.gov, ken.buja@noaa.gov, Marine Spatial Ecology, Regional Ecosystem Science
NOAA's Office of Ocean Exploration and Research (OER) and NCCOS partnered to create a publicly available spatial bibliography of Alaska's deep marine waters to support ...
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Spatial Characterization to Support Development of an Integrated Management Plan for Puerto Rico’s Northeast Marine Corridor

Chesapeake Bay, chris.jeffrey@noaa.gov, coral reef, Habitat Mapping, Marine Spatial Ecology, marine spatial planning, NECNR, Northeast Marine Corridor, Puerto Rico, Puerto Rico, spatial characterization of northeast marine cooridor, U.S. States and Territories, Waterbodies
We synthesized data to support development of an integrated management plan for Puerto Rico’s Northeast Marine Corridor. We used spatial data to characterize the area, ...
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Spatial Predictive Modeling of Threatened ESA Corals in the U.S. Atlantic and Caribbean

Coastal Change, Coral, coral, Florida, Marine Spatial Ecology, modeling, Puerto Rico, shay.viehman@noaa.gov, U.S. States and Territories, U.S. Virgin Islands
We are using predictive mapping to predict Threatened coral species distributions in the U.S. Atlantic and Caribbean and provide interactive maps of predicted distributions. Outputs ...
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Spatial Prioritization Widget: A Tool to Identify Mapping Priorities

Habitat Mapping, john.christensen@noaa.gov, ken.buja@noaa.gov, Marine Spatial Ecology, U.S. States and Territories, Waterbodies
The Spatial Prioritization Widget is a tool to gather mapping priorities from stakeholders in a study area. This customizable tool can be configured to identify ...
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Statistical Guidelines for Marine Bird Sampling to Support Offshore Renewable Energy Planning

Atlantic Ocean, Habitat Mapping, jeffery.leirness@noaa.gov, john.christensen@noaa.gov, Marine Spatial Ecology, Offshore Wind, sampling design, seabird, surveys, Waterbodies
The purpose of this project is to develop statistical methods for marine bird surveys, to help guide placement of offshore renewable energy facilities, such as ...
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