National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), agency of the U.S. Department of Commerce, created by a presidential reorganization plan in 1970. The administration is empowered to explore and chart the global oceans; to manage, use, and conserve the oceans' living resources; to monitor oceanic and atmospheric conditions; to report weather conditions in the U.S. and its possessions; to warn against impending natural disasters; to acquire and disseminate environmental data; and to protect endangered marine species.

At present, the organization of the NOAA includes the National Ocean Service, which prepares charts and surveys and monitors tidal and seismic activity; the National Weather Service, which provides weather forecasts to the public; the National Marine Fisheries Service, which is concerned with the living resources of the sea as they affect the U.S. economy and diet; the National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service, which operates weather and environmental satellite systems, gathers data on the environment, and provides administrative support for corresponding world data centers; and the Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research, whose laboratories conduct broad research programs in marine and atmospheric sciences. In addition, the NOAA administers the National Sea Grant program, which provides monetary grants to institutions engaged in marine research. The agency also supports a data buoy project, which is developing a system of ocean buoys for automatically disseminating continuous marine environmental data.

See also Deep-Sea Exploration; Diving (underwater); Weather Service, National.