NOAA — LLMpedia

NOAA
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration · Public domain · source
Agency name	National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Formed	October 3, 1970
Jurisdiction	United States Department of Commerce
Headquarters	Silver Spring, Maryland
Employees	12,000
Budget	$5.6 billion
Agency executives	Richard Spinrad, Administrator

Contents

NOAA is a United States Department of Commerce agency that focuses on the ocean and atmosphere, working closely with the National Weather Service, National Centers for Environmental Prediction, and the National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service. The agency's mission is to understand and predict changes in the Earth's environment, including climate change, and to conserve and manage coastal and marine ecosystems in partnership with the National Ocean Service, National Marine Fisheries Service, and the Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research. NOAA works with other agencies, such as the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and the United States Environmental Protection Agency, to achieve its goals. The agency is also involved in international collaborations, including the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO and the World Meteorological Organization.

Introduction to NOAA

NOAA is headquartered in Silver Spring, Maryland, and its administrator is Richard Spinrad, who works closely with the United States Secretary of Commerce, currently Gina Raimondo. The agency has a diverse range of responsibilities, including weather forecasting, climate monitoring, and ocean conservation, often in collaboration with the National Park Service, United States Fish and Wildlife Service, and the United States Coast Guard. NOAA's work has a significant impact on the economy of the United States, particularly in industries such as fishing, tourism, and shipping, which are regulated by the Federal Maritime Commission and the United States Maritime Administration. The agency also works with other countries, such as Canada, Mexico, and China, to address global environmental issues, including ocean pollution and overfishing, through international agreements like the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.

NOAA was established on October 3, 1970, as a result of a reorganization of the United States Department of Commerce, which was led by President Richard Nixon and Secretary of Commerce Maurice Stans. The agency was formed by combining the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey, the National Weather Service, and other government agencies, including the Bureau of Commercial Fisheries and the Environmental Science Services Administration. Since its establishment, NOAA has played a critical role in advancing our understanding of the ocean and atmosphere, and has worked to protect and conserve marine ecosystems in partnership with the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation and the Ocean Conservancy. The agency has also been involved in several major environmental disasters, including the Exxon Valdez oil spill and Hurricane Katrina, and has worked with other agencies, such as the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the United States Army Corps of Engineers, to respond to these events.

NOAA is organized into several line offices, including the National Ocean Service, the National Weather Service, and the National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service. The agency is also home to several research laboratories, including the Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory and the Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory, which work closely with the National Science Foundation and the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research. NOAA's administrative offices are located in Silver Spring, Maryland, and the agency has a presence in several other locations, including Boulder, Colorado, Seattle, Washington, and Miami, Florida, where it works with other agencies, such as the National Institute of Standards and Technology and the United States Geological Survey. The agency is led by an administrator, who is appointed by the President of the United States and confirmed by the United States Senate, and works closely with the United States House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology and the United States Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

NOAA provides a wide range of programs and services to the public, including weather forecasting, climate monitoring, and ocean conservation. The agency's National Weather Service provides weather forecasts and warnings to the public, while its National Ocean Service works to protect and conserve marine ecosystems. NOAA also operates a fleet of research vessels, including the NOAA Ship Ronald H. Brown and the NOAA Ship Fairweather, which are used to conduct oceanographic research and marine surveys in partnership with the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution and the Scripps Institution of Oceanography. The agency's National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service provides satellite imagery and data to the public, which is used by other agencies, such as the National Reconnaissance Office and the United States Air Force.

NOAA conducts a wide range of research and operations to advance our understanding of the ocean and atmosphere. The agency's research laboratories conduct scientific research on topics such as climate change, ocean acidification, and marine ecosystems, often in collaboration with the National Center for Atmospheric Research and the University of Washington. NOAA's operational offices provide weather forecasting, climate monitoring, and ocean conservation services to the public, and the agency works with other countries, such as Japan, Australia, and the United Kingdom, to address global environmental issues, including tsunami warning systems and ocean pollution, through international agreements like the International Maritime Organization and the Global Ocean Observing System. The agency also operates a network of buoys and gliders to collect oceanographic data, which is used by other agencies, such as the National Data Buoy Center and the United States Navy.

NOAA has made several notable achievements and initiatives in recent years, including the development of a new generation of geostationary weather satellites, such as the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite series, which provide high-resolution imagery of the Earth's weather patterns. The agency has also launched several new research initiatives, including the Ocean Exploration Initiative and the Climate Research Initiative, which are designed to advance our understanding of the ocean and atmosphere and to address the impacts of climate change on marine ecosystems, in partnership with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Office of Ocean Exploration and Research and the National Science Foundation's Division of Ocean Sciences. NOAA has also worked to protect and conserve marine ecosystems, including the establishment of marine protected areas and the development of sustainable fishing practices, through international agreements like the United Nations Fish Stocks Agreement and the Food and Agriculture Organization's Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries. The agency's work has been recognized with several awards, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom and the National Medal of Science, which have been awarded to NOAA scientists and partners, such as Sylvia Earle and the Ocean Conservancy.