View source for National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

{{Short description|US government scientific agency}}
{{Use American English|date=August 2022}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2025}}
{{Infobox government agency
| agency_name     = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
| nativename      = 
| seal            = NOAA logo.svg
| seal_width      = 200px
| image_size      = 
| formed          = {{Start date and age|1970|10|3}}
| preceding1      = [[United States Coast and Geodetic Survey]]
| preceding2      = [[Environmental Science Services Administration]]
| dissolved       = 
| superseding     = 
| jurisdiction    = [[Federal government of the United States]]
| headquarters    = [[Silver Spring, Maryland]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.noaa.gov/sites/default/files/2021-11/NIYSMD.pdf|title=NOAA in Your State – Maryland; National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration|website=noaa.gov|access-date=June 22, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.noaa.gov/contact-us|title=Contact Us|website=Noaa.gov|access-date=August 19, 2023}}</ref><!-- [Mailing Address: 1401 [[Constitution Avenue]] NW, Room 5128, [[Washington, D.C.]], U.S.] -->
| coordinates     = {{Coordinates|38|59|32|N|77|01|50|W|}}
| employees       = {{Plainlist|
* 321 [[NOAA Commissioned Corps]] (2018)
* 12,000 civilian employees (2021)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.noaa.gov/about-our-agency|title=About our agency &#124; National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration|website=Noaa.gov|access-date=February 28, 2022}}</ref>
                    }}
| budget          = $6.9 billion ({{Estimated|2022}})
| chief1_name     = [[Neil Jacobs]]
| chief1_position = NOAA Administrator and{{Break}} [[Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere]]
| parent_agency   = [[United States Department of Commerce|US Department of Commerce]]
| child1_agency   = [[National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service]]
| child2_agency   = [[National Marine Fisheries Service]]
| child3_agency   = [[National Ocean Service]]
| child4_agency   = [[National Weather Service]]
| child5_agency   = [[Office of Marine and Aviation Operations]]
| child6_agency   = [[Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research]]
| child7_agency   = [[Office of Space Commerce]]
| website         = {{URL|https://www.noaa.gov/}}
| footnotes       = <ref>[http://celebrating200years.noaa.gov/ Celebrating 200 Years], NOAA website, 2007.</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.noaa.gov/about-noaa.html|title=About Our Agency &#124; National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration|website=NOAA.gov|access-date=April 3, 2016}}</ref><ref name="BestPlacesToWork.org Agency Report">{{cite web|title=BestPlacesToWork.org Agency Report |url=http://bestplacestowork.org/BPTW/rankings/detail/CM54|publisher=Best Places to Work|access-date=July 1, 2014}}</ref><ref name="Org chart 2018">{{cite web|title=Organizational Structure |url=http://www.noaa.gov/about/organization|website=National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration |access-date=July 13, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180713060352/http://www.noaa.gov/about/organization|archive-date=July 13, 2018|url-status=dead|date=March 5, 2018}}</ref>
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}}
{{United States space program sidebar}}

The '''National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration''' ('''NOAA''' {{IPAc-en|ˈ|n|oʊ|.|ə}} {{respell|NOH|ə}}) is a United States scientific and [[regulatory agency]] tasked with [[Weather forecasting|forecasting weather]], monitoring oceanic and atmospheric conditions, [[Hydrography|charting the seas]], conducting [[deep-sea exploration]], and managing fishing and protection of marine mammals and endangered species in the US [[exclusive economic zone]]. The agency is part of the [[United States Department of Commerce]] and is headquartered in [[Silver Spring, Maryland]].

== History ==
===Founding===
NOAA traces its history back to multiple agencies,<ref name="history">{{Cite web |title=Our history {{!}} National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration |url=https://www.noaa.gov/heritage/our-history |access-date=May 10, 2024 |website=Noaa.gov |language=en}}</ref> some of which are among the earliest in the federal government:<ref name="lib.noaa.gov">{{cite web |url=http://www.lib.noaa.gov/noaainfo/heritage/ReorganizationPlan4.html|title=Reorganization Plan 4 – 197 – NOAA Central Library|website=Lib.noaa.gov|access-date=April 3, 2016|url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304051421/http://www.lib.noaa.gov/noaainfo/heritage/ReorganizationPlan4.html|archive-date=March 4, 2016}}</ref>
* [[United States Coast and Geodetic Survey]], formed in 1807
* [[National Weather Service|Weather Bureau of the United States]], formed in 1870
* [[United States Fish Commission|Bureau of Commercial Fisheries]], formed in 1871 (research fleet only)
* [[NOAA Commissioned Officer Corps#Coast and Geodetic Survey Corps|Coast and Geodetic Survey Corps]], formed in 1917

===20th century===
The most direct predecessor of NOAA was the [[Environmental Science Services Administration]] (ESSA), into which several existing scientific agencies such as the [[United States Coast and Geodetic Survey]], the [[National Weather Service|Weather Bureau]], and the [[NOAA Commissioned Corps|uniformed Corps]] were absorbed in 1965.<ref name="lib.noaa.gov" />

NOAA was established within the Department of Commerce via the Reorganization Plan No. 4,<ref name="lib.noaa.gov" /> and formed on October 3, 1970, after U.S. President [[Richard Nixon]] proposed creating a new agency to serve a national need for "better protection of life and property from natural hazards... for a better understanding of the total environment... [and] for exploration and development leading to the intelligent use of our marine resources".<ref>{{cite web |title=Reorganization Plans Nos. 3 and 4 of 1970 |url=https://archive.epa.gov/ocir/leglibrary/pdf/created.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://archive.epa.gov/ocir/leglibrary/pdf/created.pdf |archive-date=October 9, 2022 |website=Archive.epa.gov |page=6}}</ref>

NOAA is a part of the Department of Commerce rather than the [[United States Department of the Interior|Department of Interior]], because of a feud between President Nixon and his interior secretary, [[Wally Hickel]], over the Nixon Administration's [[Vietnam War]] policy. Nixon did not like Hickel's letter urging Nixon to listen to the Vietnam War demonstrators,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://schanes.wordpress.com/2008/05/21/the-battle-for-the-national-oceanic-and-atmospheric-administration-noaa/|title=The Battle for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)|date=May 22, 2008|website=Steven Eli Schanes|language=en|access-date=December 9, 2019}}</ref> and punished Hickel by not putting NOAA in the Interior Department.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.science.org/content/article/why-noaa-commerce-department|title=Why NOAA Is in the Commerce Department|language=en|access-date=December 9, 2019}}</ref>

===21st century===
In 2007, NOAA celebrated 200 years of service in its role as successor to the U.S. [[United States Coast and Geodetic Survey|Survey of the Coast]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Shea|first=Eileen|title=A History of NOAA|url=http://www.history.noaa.gov/legacy/noaahistory_1.html|publisher=Department of Commerce Historical Council|access-date=May 30, 2013}}</ref>

In 2021, NOAA had 11,833 civilian employees.<ref name="BestPlacesToWork.org Agency Report" /> Its research and operations are further supported by 321 [[Uniformed services of the United States|uniformed service]] members, who made up the [[NOAA Commissioned Corps]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.omao.noaa.gov/learn/noaa-corps/about|title=About {{!}} Office of Marine and Aviation Operations|website=NOAA.gov|language=en|access-date=February 19, 2018}}</ref>

In 2024, [[Project 2025]] proposed to get rid of the [[Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research]], which would "dismantle" NOAA's research division.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Noor |first=Dharna |date=April 26, 2024 |title=Trump will dismantle key US weather and science agency, climate experts fear |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/apr/26/trump-presidency-gut-noaa-weather-climate-crisis |access-date=August 4, 2024 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref><ref name="Smith-2024">{{Cite web |last=Smith |first=Hayley |date=July 28, 2024 |title=Project 2025 plan calls for demolition of NOAA and National Weather Service |url=https://www.latimes.com/environment/story/2024-07-28/project-2025-targets-noaa-and-national-weather-service |access-date=July 28, 2024 |website=[[Los Angeles Times]] |language=en-US}}</ref>

[[NOAA under the second presidency of Donald Trump|NOAA has experienced numerous changes under the second presidency of Donald Trump]]. On February 27, 2025, several hundred NOAA staffers, mainly probationary, were laid off after staffers from the [[Department of Government Efficiency]] (DOGE) entered the headquarters of NOAA.<ref>{{citation|title=NOAA, federal weather and research agency, is firing workers in Oregon and Washington|url=https://www.opb.org/article/2025/02/27/noaa-operations-in-oregon-and-washington-affected-by-job-cuts/|date=February 27, 2025|publisher=OPB|first1=Courtney|last1=Sherwood|first2=Ryan|last2=Haas|first3=Lauren|last3=Dake}}</ref> By early March, 1,300 NOAA staff members (roughly 10% of the total workforce) were laid off.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Kives |first=Bartley |author-link=Bartley Kives |date=March 7, 2025 |title=Cuts to U.S. weather forecasting, climate science create dark clouds for Canadian counterparts |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/united-states-weather-service-cuts-1.7476756 |work=Canadian Broadcasting Corporation}}</ref>

In June, 2025, the Department of Defense announced it would no longer provide critical weather data to scientists and forecasters, including to NOAA staff.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Hersher |first=Rebecca |date=2025-07-01 |title=Defense Department will stop providing crucial satellite weather data |url=https://www.npr.org/2025/06/28/nx-s1-5446120/defense-department-cuts-hurricane-ice-weather-satellite |access-date=2025-07-07 |work=NPR |language=en}}</ref>

== Organizational structure ==
=== Silver Spring Campus ===
Since 1993, NOAA's administrative headquarters has been located at the Silver Spring Metro Center office complex in downtown [[Silver Spring, Maryland]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://commerce.maryland.gov/Documents/BusinessResource/NOAA-National-Oceanic-and-Atmospheric-Administration.pdf|title=Maryland Federal Facilities Profile – NOAA; Maryland Department of Commerce|website=commerce.maryland.gov|access-date=June 22, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.foulgerpratt.com/property/silver-spring-metro-center|title=Silver Spring Metro Center; Foulger-Pratt|website=foulgerpratt.com|access-date=June 22, 2023}}</ref> The consolidated {{Convert|1.2|e6sqft|m2|abbr=unit}}, four-building campus was constructed in 1993 and is home to over 40 NOAA sub-agencies and offices, including the [[National Weather Service]].{{citation needed|date=May 2025}}

=== Administrator ===
{{main|Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere}}

[[Neil Jacobs]] was confirmed as  Under Secretary for Oceans and Atmosphere and NOAA Administrator on Oct 7th, 2025 and he took over shortly thereafter.<ref>{{cite news |title=Senate Confirms ‘Sharpiegate’ Meteorologist to Lead NOAA |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/07/us/politics/senate-neil-jacobs-noaa.html |access-date=12 November 2025 |date=7 October 2025}}</ref> Prior to that, NOAA Chief of Staff Laura Grimm had been the Acting Under Secretary since March 31, 2025 and prior to that [[Nancy Hann]] had held this role following the change of administrations on January 20, 2025 when [[Rick Spinrad]] resigned.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Vice Admiral Nancy Hann {{!}} National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration |url=https://www.noaa.gov/our-people/leadership/vice-admiral-nancy-hann |access-date=January 25, 2025 |website=www.noaa.gov |language=en}}</ref>

[[Neil Jacobs]], then Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Environmental Observation and Prediction, served as acting [[Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere]] at the US Department of Commerce and as NOAA's interim administrator from February 25, 2019, to January 20, 2021 during the first Trump Administration.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.commerce.gov/about/leadership/dr-neil-jacobs|title=Dr. Neil Jacobs|website=U.S. Department of Commerce|language=en|access-date=December 13, 2019|archive-date=December 13, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191213142228/https://www.commerce.gov/about/leadership/dr-neil-jacobs|url-status=dead}}</ref> Jacobs succeeded [[Timothy Gallaudet]], who succeeded Benjamin Friedman. The three served in series as NOAA's interim administrator throughout the [[First presidency of Donald Trump|first Trump Administration]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.noaa.gov/leadership/benjamin-friedman|title=Benjamin Friedman |website=NOAA |language=en|access-date=June 13, 2017 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170628121624/http://www.noaa.gov/leadership/benjamin-friedman |archive-date= June 28, 2017 }}</ref>

=== Independent agency proposal ===
NOAA was created by an executive order in 1970 and has never been established in law, despite its critical role. In January 2023, ''[[The Washington Post]]'' reported that Congressman [[Frank Lucas (Oklahoma politician)|Frank Lucas]], the new chair of the House Science, Space and Technology Committee, had released draft legislation to make NOAA an independent agency, rather than it being part of the Commerce Department. Lucas' push was in response to Republican leaders who had signaled plans to slash funding for agencies and programs that continued to receive annual appropriations, but had not been reauthorized by Congress. "It's been made quite clear in the Republican conference that my friends don't want to fund programs that are not properly authorized," said Lucas. "NOAA is very important, so we need to get it authorized."<ref>[https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2023/01/27/this-republican-wants-make-noaa-an-independent-agency/ ''Washington Post''. "This Republican wants to make NOAA an independent agency" by Maxine Joselow. January 27, 2023.]</ref>

=== Services ===
NOAA works toward its mission through six major line offices: the [[National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service]] (NESDIS), the [[National Marine Fisheries Service]] (NMFS), the [[National Ocean Service]] (NOS), the [[National Weather Service]] (NWS), the [[Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research]] (OAR) and the [[Office of Marine and Aviation Operations]] (OMAO).<ref name=NOAA>{{cite web |url=http://www.noaa.gov/organizations.html|title=Organization &#124; National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration|website=Noaa.gov|date=March 30, 2016|access-date=April 3, 2016}}</ref> NOAA has more than a dozen staff offices, including the Office of the Federal Coordinator for Meteorology, the [[NOAA Central Library]], the Office of Program Planning and Integration (PPI).<ref name=NOAA />

==== National Weather Service ====
{{Main|National Weather Service}}

The [[National Weather Service]] (NWS) is tasked with providing "weather, hydrologic and climate forecasts and warnings for the United States, its territories, adjacent waters and ocean areas, for the protection of life and property and the enhancement of the national economy", according to NOAA.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.noaa.gov/weather|title=Weather {{!}} National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration|date=September 24, 2019|website=noaa.gov|access-date=September 24, 2019}}</ref> This is done through a collection of national and regional centers, 13 river forecast centers (RFCs), and more than 120 local weather forecast offices (WFOs).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.weather.gov/about/forecastsandservice|title=NWS: Forecasts and Service|website=Weather.gov|access-date=September 24, 2019}}</ref> They are charged with issuing weather and river [[weather forecasting|forecasts]], [[Severe weather terminology (United States)|advisories, watches, and warnings]] on a daily basis. They issue more than 734,000 weather and 850,000 river forecasts, and more than 45,000 severe weather warnings annually. NOAA data is also relevant to the issues of [[climate change]] and [[ozone depletion]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.climate.gov/news-features/understanding-climate/4-ways-ozone-hole-linked-climate-and-1-way-it-isn%E2%80%99t|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161208144234/https://www.climate.gov/news-features/understanding-climate/4-ways-ozone-hole-linked-climate-and-1-way-it-isn%E2%80%99t|url-status=dead|archive-date=December 8, 2016|title=4 ways the ozone hole is linked to climate, and 1 way it isn't|website=Climate.gov|access-date=December 13, 2019}}</ref>

The NWS operates [[NEXRAD]], a nationwide network of Doppler [[weather radar]]s which can detect [[precipitation (meteorology)|precipitation]] and their velocities. Many of their products are broadcast on [[NOAA Weather Radio]], a network of radio [[transmitter]]s that broadcasts weather forecasts, severe weather statements, watches and warnings 24 hours a day.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.weather.gov/nwr/ |title=NOAA Weather Radio |website=US Department of Commerce, NOAA, National Weather Service- Weather.gov |language=EN-US |access-date=January 30, 2017}}</ref>

==== National Ocean Service ====
{{Main|National Ocean Service}}

The [[National Ocean Service]] (NOS) focuses on ensuring that ocean and coastal areas are safe, healthy, and productive. NOS scientists, natural resource managers, and specialists serve America by ensuring safe and efficient marine transportation, promoting innovative solutions to protect coastal communities, and conserving marine and coastal places.<ref>{{Cite web|title=National Ocean Service {{!}} United States agency|url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/National-Ocean-Service|access-date=October 12, 2021|website=Encyclopedia Britannica|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/about/|title=NOS: About Us|website=oceanservice.noaa.gov|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190908171306/https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/about/|archive-date=September 8, 2019|access-date=September 24, 2019}}</ref>

The National Ocean Service is composed of eight program offices: the Center for Operational Oceanographic Products and Services,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov/|title=NOAA Tides & Currents|website=tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov|access-date=August 19, 2017}}</ref> the Office for Coastal Management,<ref>{{cite web|author=NOAA Office for Coastal Management ADS Group |url=http://www.csc.noaa.gov/ |title=NOAA Office for Coastal Management|website=Csc.noaa.gov|access-date=April 3, 2016}}</ref> the National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov |title=Home – NOAA Tides & Currents|website=Tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov|date=October 15, 2013|access-date=April 3, 2016}}</ref> the [[Office of Coast Survey]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nauticalcharts.noaa.gov |title=Nautical Charts & Pubs|website=Nauticalcharts.noaa.gov|access-date=April 3, 2016}}</ref> the Office of [[National Geodetic Survey]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://geodesy.noaa.gov/|title=National Geodetic Survey – Home|website=Geodesy.noaa.gov|access-date=April 3, 2016}}</ref> the Office of [[National Marine Sanctuaries]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/|title=NOAA National Marine Sanctuaries|website=Sanctuaries.noaa.gov|access-date=April 3, 2016}}</ref> the Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://coastalmanagement.noaa.gov/|title=NOAA Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management |access-date=October 25, 2006|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061027170914/http://coastalmanagement.noaa.gov/|archive-date=October 27, 2006}}</ref> and the [[Office of Response and Restoration]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://response.restoration.noaa.gov/|title=Our role is stewardship; our product is science|website=Response.restoration.noaa.gov|date=March 24, 1989|access-date=April 3, 2016}}</ref>

There are two NOS programs, the [[Mussel Watch Program|Mussel Watch Contaminant Monitoring Program]] and the NOAA Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS). There are two staff offices, the International Program Office and the Management and Budget Office.

==== National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service ====
{{Main|National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service}}

[[File:NOAAEngineerAtWork.jpg|thumb|A NOAA engineer at work]]
The [[National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service]] (NESDIS) was created by NOAA to operate and manage the US environmental satellite programs, and manage NWS data and those of other government agencies and departments.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://nap.nationalacademies.org/read/6197/chapter/2 |title=Read "Future of the National Weather Service Cooperative Observer Network" at NAP.edu |date=1998 |doi=10.17226/6197 |isbn=978-0-309-06146-9 |language=en}}</ref> NESDIS's [[National Centers for Environmental Information]] (NCEI) archives data collected by the NOAA, [[United States Navy]], [[United States Air Force]], the [[Federal Aviation Administration]], and meteorological services around the world. It comprises the Center for Weather and Climate, previously NOAA's [[National Climatic Data Center]], the National Coastal Data Development Center (NCDDC), the [[National Oceanographic Data Center]] (NODC), and the [[National Geophysical Data Center]] (NGDC)).

In 1960, [[TIROS-1]], NASA's first owned and operated geostationary satellite, was launched. Since 1966, NESDIS has managed polar orbiting satellites (POES). Since 1974, it has operated [[geosynchronous satellites]] (GOES). In 1979, NOAA's first [[Polar Operational Environmental Satellites|polar-orbiting environmental satellite]] was launched. Current operational satellites include [[NOAA-15]], [[NOAA-18]], [[NOAA-19]], [[GOES 13]], [[GOES 14]], [[GOES 15]], [[Jason-2]], [[DSCOVR]] and [[Space Weather Follow On-Lagrange 1|SWO-F1]]. In 1983, NOAA assumed operational responsibility for the [[Landsat program|Landsat]] satellite system.<ref>{{Cite report |url=https://pubs.er.usgs.gov/publication/fs08497|title=Landsat Data Data Sheet |date=1997 |publisher=United States Geological Survey |doi=10.3133/fs08497 |page=2 |doi-access=free}}</ref>

Since May 1998, NESDIS has operated the [[Defense Meteorological Satellite Program]] (DMSP) satellites on behalf of the [[557th Weather Wing|Air Force Weather Agency]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://history.nasa.gov/presrep98/doc.html|title=Department of Commerce|website=history.nasa.gov|access-date=May 28, 2017}}</ref>

New generations of satellites are developed to succeed the current polar orbiting and geosynchronous satellites, the [[Joint Polar Satellite System]], and [[GOES-R]], which launched in November 2016.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-successfully-launches-noaa-advanced-geostationary-weather-satellite/|title=NASA Successfully Launches NOAA Advanced Geostationary Weather Satellite|date=November 19, 2016|website=nasa.gov}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.nasa.gov/content/goes-overview/index.html|title=GOES Overview and History|last=Jenner |first=Lynn|date=March 10, 2015|website=NASA|access-date=December 13, 2019}}</ref>

NESDIS runs the Office of Projects, Planning, and Analysis (OPPA) formerly the Office of Systems Development,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.osd.noaa.gov|title=NOAA/NESDIS Office of Systems Development Homepage|website=Osd.noaa.gov|access-date=April 3, 2016|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304113326/http://www.osd.noaa.gov/|archive-date=March 4, 2016}}</ref> the Office of Satellite Ground Systems (formerly the Office of Satellite Operations)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.oso.noaa.gov|title=Office of Satellite Operation Website|access-date=July 22, 2015|url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131110025715/http://www.oso.noaa.gov/|archive-date=November 10, 2013}}</ref> the Office of Satellite and Project Operations,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.osdpd.noaa.gov/ml/index.html|title=Home Page – Office of Satellite Data Processing and Distribution|access-date=July 22, 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150528155431/http://www.osdpd.noaa.gov/ml/index.html |archive-date=May 28, 2015}}</ref> the Center for Satellite Applications and Research (STAR)],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.star.nesdis.noaa.gov/star/|title=NOAA Star : Center for Satellite Applications and Research|website=Star.nesdis.noaa.gov|access-date=April 3, 2016}}</ref> the Joint Polar Satellite System Program Office<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nesdis.noaa.gov/jpss/|title=Joint Polar Satellite System(JPSS)|access-date=July 22, 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120729151514/http://www.nesdis.noaa.gov/jpss/|archive-date=July 29, 2012}}</ref> the [[Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite|GOES-R]] Program Office, the International & Interagency Affairs Office, the [[Office of Space Commerce]]<ref>{{cite web|author=Office of Space Commerce|url=http://www.space.commerce.gov|title=Office of Space Commerce &#124; Helping U.S. businesses use the unique medium of space to benefit our economy|website=Space.commerce.gov|access-date=April 3, 2016}}</ref> and the Office of System Architecture and Advanced Planning.

==== National Marine Fisheries Service ====
{{Main|National Marine Fisheries Service}}

The [[National Marine Fisheries Service]] (NMFS), also known as NOAA Fisheries, was initiated in 1871 with a primary goal of the research, protection, management, and restoration of commercial and recreational [[fisheries]] and their habitat, and protected species. The NMFS operates twelve headquarters offices, five regional offices, six fisheries science centers, and more than 20 laboratories throughout the United States and U.S. territories, which are the sites of research and management of marine resources. The NMFS operates the [[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries Office of Law Enforcement]] in [[Silver Spring, Maryland]], which is the primary site of marine resource law enforcement.

==== Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research ====
{{Main|Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research}}

NOAA's research, conducted through the Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR), is the driving force behind NOAA environmental products and services that protect life and property and promote economic growth. Research, conducted in OAR laboratories and by extramural programs, focuses on enhancing our understanding of environmental phenomena such as tornadoes, hurricanes, climate variability, solar flares, changes in the ozone, [[Atmospheric dispersion modeling|air pollution transport and dispersion]],<ref>{{cite book|author=Turner, D.B.|title=Workbook of atmospheric dispersion estimates: an introduction to dispersion modeling|edition=2nd|publisher=[[CRC Press]]|year=1994|isbn=1-56670-023-X|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/workbookofatmosp0000turn}} [http://www.crcpress.com/shopping_cart/products/product_detail.asp?sku=L1023&parent_id=&pc= CRCpress.com] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071105075907/http://www.crcpress.com/shopping_cart/products/product_detail.asp?sku=L1023&parent_id=&pc=|date=November 5, 2007}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|author=Beychok, M.R.|title=Fundamentals of Stack Gas Dispersion|edition=4th|publisher=author-published|year=2005|isbn=0-9644588-0-2|title-link=Fundamentals of Stack Gas Dispersion}} [http://www.air-dispersion.com/ www.air-dispersion.com]</ref> [[El Niño]]/[[La Niña]] events, fisheries productivity, ocean currents, deep sea thermal vents, and coastal ecosystem health. NOAA research also develops innovative technologies and observing systems.

The NOAA Research network consists of seven internal research laboratories, extramural research at 30 [[Sea Grant Colleges|Sea Grant]] university and research programs, six undersea research centers, a research grants program through the Climate Program Office, and 13 cooperative institutes with academia. Through NOAA and its academic partners, thousands of scientists, engineers, technicians, and graduate students participate in furthering our knowledge of natural phenomena that affect the lives of us all.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.noaanews.noaa.gov/stories/s235.htm|title=NOAA News Online (Story 235)|website=Noaanews.noaa.gov|access-date=May 28, 2017|archive-date=December 15, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161215211604/http://www.noaanews.noaa.gov/stories/s235.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=About Our Agency {{!}} National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration|url=https://www.noaa.gov/about-our-agency|website=Noaa.gov|access-date=May 16, 2020}}</ref>

The [[Air Resources Laboratory]] (ARL) is one of the laboratories in the Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research. It studies processes and develops models relating to climate and air quality, including the transport, dispersion, transformation and removal of [[pollutants]] from the ambient atmosphere. The emphasis of the ARL's work is on data interpretation, technology development and transfer. The specific goal of ARL research is to improve and eventually to institutionalize prediction of trends, dispersion of [[Air pollution dispersion terminology|air pollutant plumes]], [[air quality]], atmospheric deposition, and related variables.<ref>{{Cite book|title=The United States Outer Executive Departments and Independent Establishments & Government Corporations|last=Pan |first=Jock|publisher=Xlibris|year=2010|isbn=978-1-4500-8674-5}}{{self-published source|date=December 2017}}</ref>{{Self-published inline|certain=yes|date=December 2017}}<ref>{{Cite web|title=Home|url=https://www.arl.noaa.gov/|website=Air Resources Laboratory|language=en-US|access-date=May 16, 2020}}</ref>

The [[Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory]] (AOML), is part of NOAA's Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research, located in [[Miami]], [[Florida]]. AOML's research spans hurricanes, coastal ecosystems, oceans, and human health, climate studies, global carbon systems, and ocean observations. AOML's organizational structure consists of an Office of the Director and three scientific research divisions, Physical Oceanography, Ocean Chemistry and Ecosystems, and Hurricane Research. The Office of the Director oversees the Laboratory's scientific programs, as well as its financial, administrative, computer, outreach/education, and facility management services.<ref name="aoml.noaa.gov">{{Cite web|title=About Us – NOAA's Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory|url=https://www.aoml.noaa.gov/about-aoml/|language=en-US|access-date=May 16, 2020}}</ref>

Research programs are augmented by the Cooperative Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Studies (CIMAS), a joint enterprise with the University of Miami's Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science. CIMAS enables AOML and university scientists to collaborate on research areas of mutual interest and facilitates the participation of students and visiting scientists. AOML is a member of a unique community of marine research and educational institutions located on Virginia Key in Miami, Florida.<ref name="aoml.noaa.gov"/>

In 1977, the [[Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory]] (PMEL) deployed the first successful moored equatorial current meter – the beginning of the [[Tropical Atmosphere Ocean project|Tropical Atmosphere Ocean]], TAO, array. In 1984, the [[Tropical Ocean-Global Atmosphere program]] (TOGA) program began.

The [[Arctic Report Card]] is the annual update charts of the ongoing impact of changing conditions on the environment and community by NOAA. In 2019, it was compiled by 81 scientists from 12 nations.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.noaa.gov/media-release/arctic-report-card-record-territory-for-warm-temperatures-loss-of-snow-and-ice|title=Arctic Report Card: Record territory for warm temperatures, loss of snow and ice {{!}} National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration|website=Noaa.gov|date=December 10, 2019 |access-date=February 9, 2020}}</ref>

==== Office of Marine and Aviation Operations ====
{{Main|Office of Marine and Aviation Operations}}

The [[Office of Marine and Aviation Operations]] is responsible for the fleet of NOAA ships, aircraft, and diving operations. It is the largest research fleet in the Federal government. Its personnel is made up of federal civil service employees and [[NOAA Commissioned Corps|NOAA Corps Commissioned Officers]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.omao.noaa.gov/learn/about-omao|title=About OMAO – Office of Marine and Aviation Operations|website=Omao.noaa.gov|access-date=August 19, 2017|archive-date=August 8, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170808015734/https://www.omao.noaa.gov/learn/about-omao|url-status=dead}}</ref> The office is led by a NOAA Corps two-star [[Rear admiral (United States)#Rear admiral|Rear Admiral]], who also commands the NOAA Corps.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.omao.noaa.gov/learn/about-omao/leadership|title=Leadership &#124; Office of Marine and Aviation Operations|access-date=April 19, 2017|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170420144443/http://www.omao.noaa.gov/learn/about-omao/leadership|archive-date=April 20, 2017}}</ref>

==== National Geodetic Survey ====
{{Main|National Geodetic Survey}}

The [[National Geodetic Survey]] (NGS) is a major surveying organization in the United States.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Kaula |first=W. M. |date=1986 |title=National Geodetic Survey Policy on the Role of Government in Geodesy |url=https://ascelibrary.org/doi/10.1061/%28ASCE%290733-9453%281986%29112%3A2%2874%29 |journal=Journal of Surveying Engineering |language=en |volume=112 |issue=2 |pages=74–78 |doi=10.1061/(ASCE)0733-9453(1986)112:2(74) |issn=0733-9453|url-access=subscription }}</ref>

==== National Integrated Drought Information System ====
{{Main|National Integrated Drought Information System}}

The [[National Integrated Drought Information System]] is a program within NOAA with an interagency mandate to coordinate and integrate drought research, building upon existing federal, tribal, state, and local partnerships in support of creating a national drought early warning information system.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.drought.gov/drought/what-nidis|title=What is NIDIS? {{!}} U.S Drought Portal |website=Drought.gov|language=en|access-date=May 28, 2017}}</ref>

==== NOAA Commissioned Officer Corps ====
[[File:NOAA plane flying above a NOAA boat.jpg|thumb|296x296px|A [[Lockheed WP-3D Orion|WP-3D Orion]] of the NOAA Hurricane Hunters flies over [[NOAAS Ronald H. Brown|NOAAS ''Ronald H. Brown'']].]]
The [[NOAA Commissioned Officer Corps]] is a [[Uniformed services of the United States|uniformed service]] of men and women who operate [[NOAA ships and aircraft]], and serve in scientific and administrative posts.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Pan |first=Jock Lul |title=United States outer executive departments and independent establishments & government corporations |date=2010 |publisher=Xlibris Corp |isbn=978-1-4500-8674-5 |location=[Philadelphia] |oclc=741273359}}</ref>
=== List of agencies and programs ===

* [[National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service]] (NESDIS)
** [[National Climatic Data Center]] (NCDC); Dissolved In 2015
** [[National Centers for Envirokfkrnmental Information]] (NCEI)
* [[National Marine Fisheries Service]] (NMFS or NOAA Fisheries)
** [[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries Office of Law Enforcement|NOAA Fisheries Office of Law Enforcement]] (NOAA OLE)
** [[Seafood Inspection Program]]
*** [[File:A National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) law enforcement boat patrols offshore during Operation Kohola Guardian in Maui, Hawaii, Feb. 14, 2017.webp|thumb|296x296px|NOAA patrol boat supports whale protection off [[Maui]] during Operation Kohola Guardian.]][[Central Florida Lot Seafood Inspection Office]] (CFLSIO)
** [[Pacific Islands Regional Office]]
** [[Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center]] (PIFSC)
** [[NOAA Fisheries Human Capital Management Office|Human Capital Management Office]] (NMFS HCMO)
* [[National Ocean Service]] (NOS)
** [[Center for Operational Oceanographic Products and Services]] (CO-OPS) 
** [[National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science]] (NCCOS)
** [[Office of Coast Survey]] (OCS)
** [[Office for Coastal Management]] (OCM)
** [[National Geodetic Survey]] (NGS)
** [[National Marine Sanctuary|Office of National Marine Sanctuaries]] (ONMS)
*** [[Monitor National Marine Sanctuary]] (MNMS)
** [[Office of Response and Restoration]] (OR&R)[[File:Planes in the NOAA Aircraft Operations Center hangar in Lakeland, Florida.jpg|thumb|Planes in the NOAA Aircraft Operations Center hangar in [[Lakeland, Florida]]|295x295px]]
*** [[Marine Debris Program]] (MDP)
* [[National Weather Service]] (NWS)
** [[List of National Weather Service Weather Forecast Offices]]; 122 Weather Forecast Offices (NWS WFO)
** [[National Centers for Environmental Prediction]] (NCEP)
*** [[Aviation Weather Center]] (AWC)
*** [[Climate Prediction Center]] (CPC)
*** [[Environmental Modeling Center]] (EMC)
*** [[National Hurricane Center]] (NHC)
**** [[Hurricane Forecast Improvement Program]] (HFIP)
*** [[Ocean Prediction Center]] (OPC)
*** [[Space Weather Prediction Center]] (SWPC)
*** [[File:NOAA Saildrone deployed in the Virgin Islands.jpg|thumb|295x295px|NOAA saildrone in the [[United States Virgin Islands|Virgin Islands]], used for hurricane observation]][[Storm Prediction Center]] (SPC); inside the [[National Weather Center]] (NWC)
*** [[Weather Prediction Center#History|Hydrometeorological Prediction Center]] (HPC); Dissolved in 2013
*** [[Weather Prediction Center]] (WPC)
** [[Radar Operations Center]] (ROC); partly inside the [[National Weather Center]] (NWC)
** [[River Forecast Centers]] (RFC)
** [[Center Weather Service Units]] (CWSU)
** [[National Data Buoy Center]] (NDBC)
* [[Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research]] (OAR or NOAA Research)
** [[Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory]] (AOML)
*** [[Hurricane Research Division]] (HRD)
** [[Air Resources Laboratory]] (ARL)
** [[Earth System Research Laboratories]] (ESRL)
*** [[Physical Sciences Laboratory]] (PSL)
**** [[Forecast Informed Reservoir Operations]] (FIRO)
** [[Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory]] (GFDL)
** [[Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory]] (GLERL)
** [[File:Nssl0307 - Flickr - NOAA Photo Library.jpg|thumb|294x294px|Research vehicle from the National Severe Storms Laboratory parked in front of an active [[thunderstorm]]]][[National Severe Storms Laboratory]] (NSSL); inside the [[National Weather Center]] (NWC)
*** [[VORTEX projects]]
*** [[TOtable Tornado Observatory]] (TOTO)
*** [[Automated NonContact Hydrologic Observation in Rivers]] (ANCHOR)
*** [[Mid-latitude Continental Convective Clouds Experiment]] (MC3E); Dissolved 2011
*** [[Hydrological cycle in the Mediterranean EXperiment]] (HyMeX); Dissolved 2012
*** [[Dynamics of the Madden-Julian Oscillation experiment]] (DYNAMO); Dissolved 2012
*** [[Plains Elevated Convection At Night]] (PECAN); Dissolved 2015
*** [[Hazardous Weather Testbed]] (HWT)
*** [[Warn-on-Forecast]] (WoF or WoFS)
*** [[Targeted Observation by Radars and UAS of Supercells]] (TORUS)
*** [[Propagation, Evolution, and Rotation in Linear Storms]] (PERiLS)
*** [[Forecasting a Continuum of Environmental Threats]] (FACETs); Proposed office
** [[Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory]] (PMEL)
** [[Climate Program Office]] (CPO)
** [[File:An Atlas V rocket launched from Cape Canaveral carrying NOAA’s GOES-T satellite.jpg|thumb|291x291px|An [[Atlas V]] rocket launched from [[Cape Canaveral Space Force Station|Cape Canaveral]] carrying NOAA's [[GOES-18|GOES-T]] satellite]][[Uncrewed Systems Research Transition Office]] (UxSRTO); Dissolved in March 2024
** Cooperative Institutes; partially funded/operated by NOAA OAR
*** [[Cooperative Institute for Climate Science]] (CICS-P)
*** [[Cooperative Institute for Climate and Satellites]] (CICS-M)
*** [[Cooperative Institute for Arctic Research]] (CIFAR)
*** [[Cooperative Institute for Limnology and Ecosystems Research]] (CILER)
*** [[Cooperative Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Studies]] (CIMAS)
*** [[Cooperative Institute for Marine Ecosystems and Climate]] (CIMEC)
*** [[Cooperative Institute for Severe and High-Impact Weather Research and Operations]] (CIWRO); inside the [[National Weather Center]] (NWC)
*** [[Cooperative Institute for Marine Resources Studies]] (CIMRS)
*** [[Cooperative Institute for Meteorological Satellite Studies]] (CIMSS)
*** [[Cooperative Institute for the North Atlantic Region]] (CINAR)
*** [[Cooperative Institute for Ocean Exploration, Research, and Technology]] (CIOERT)
*** [[Cooperative Institute for Research in the Atmosphere]] (CIRA)
*** [[Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences]] (CIRES)
*** [[Joint Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Research]] (CIPIR/JIMAR)
*** [[Joint Institute for the Study of the Atmosphere and Ocean]] (JISAO)
*** [[Northern Gulf Institute]] (NGI)[[File:NOAA Corps officers at a ceremony.jpg|thumb|296x296px|NOAA Corps officers take part in a formal ceremony.]]
** [[NOAA Nursing Mothers Program]] (NOAA NMP)
* [[Office of Marine and Aviation Operations]] (OMAO)
* [[U.S. National Geodetic Survey]] (NGS)
* [[NOAA Commissioned Officer Corps]] (NOAA Corps)
** [[Aircraft Operations Center]] (AOC)
* [[National Integrated Drought Information System]] (NIDIS)
* [[U.S. National Ice Center]] (USNIC); Jointly owned and operated by the [[United States Department of Defense|Department of Defense]] (DOD) and [[United States Department of Homeland Security|Department of Homeland Security]] (DHS)

== Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change ==
In 2001, the chair of the [[Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change]]'s working group on climate science became [[Susan Solomon]], an atmospheric chemist at NOAA's Boulder, Colorado offices.<ref name="Pearce">{{cite book |last1=Pearce |first1=Fred |title=The climate files: the battle for the truth about global warming |date=2010 |publisher=Guardian Books |location=London |isbn=978-0-85265-229-9 |page=194 |url=https://archive.org/details/climatefilesbatt0000pear/page/32/mode/2up?q=%22susan+solomon}}</ref> With co-chair [[Qin Dahe]] of Working Group 1 she produced the [[IPCC Fourth Assessment Report]] (AR4, 2007). She and other IPCC scientists, along with Vice President [[Al Gore]], received the [[2007 Nobel Peace Prize]].<ref name="NobelPrize">{{cite web |title=Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change – Nobel Lecture |url=https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/peace/2007/ipcc/lecture/ |website=NobelPrize.org |access-date=29 July 2025}}</ref>

== Hurricane Dorian forecast ==
{{Main|Hurricane Dorian|Hurricane Dorian-Alabama controversy}}

[[Hurricane Dorian]] was an extremely powerful and destructive tropical cyclone that devastated the northwestern Bahamas and caused significant damage to the Southeastern United States and Atlantic Canada in September 2019. By September 1, NOAA had issued a statement saying that the "current forecast path of Dorian does not include Alabama". However, on that date, President Donald Trump tweeted that Alabama, among other states, "will most likely be hit (much) harder than anticipated".<ref name="Feldscher">{{Cite news|url=https://www.cnn.com/2019/09/06/politics/noaa-tweet-nws-trump-alabama/index.html|title=NOAA slams weather service tweet that refuted Trump's Alabama claim|publisher=CNN|first=Kyle|last=Feldscher|access-date=September 7, 2019}}</ref><ref name="Embury"/><ref name="guardian-7sep2019"/>

Shortly thereafter, the [[Birmingham, Alabama]] office of the National Weather Service issued a tweet that appeared to contradict Trump, saying that Alabama "will NOT see any impacts from Dorian". On September 6, NOAA published a statement from an unidentified spokesperson supporting Trump's September 1 claim. The statement also labelled the Birmingham, Alabama branch of the National Weather Service's contradiction of Trump as incorrect.<ref name="Feldscher"/><ref name="Embury">{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/trump-map-hurricane-dorian-sharpie-fake-doctored-alabama-noaa-storm-a9092521.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220618/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/trump-map-hurricane-dorian-sharpie-fake-doctored-alabama-noaa-storm-a9092521.html |archive-date=June 18, 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Trump forced to deny personally doctoring hurricane map after sharpie spotted on his desk|last1=Embury-Dennis|first1=Tom|date=September 5, 2019|work=The Independent|access-date=September 5, 2019}}</ref><ref name="guardian-7sep2019">{{cite news |title='Sharpiegate': meteorologists upset as weather agency defends Trump's Alabama claim|url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/sep/07/sharpiegate-trump-alabama-hurricane-dorian|access-date=September 7, 2019|work=The Guardian |date=September 7, 2019}}</ref> ''The New York Times'' reported that the NOAA September 6 statement was prompted by a threat from U.S. Commerce Secretary [[Wilbur Ross]] to fire high-level NOAA staff unless they supported Trump's claim. The Department of Commerce described this report as "false".<ref name=BBCsack>{{cite news|title=Trump Dorian tweets: Weather staff 'faced sacking threat' over Alabama|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-49645498|access-date=September 10, 2019|publisher=BBC News|date=September 10, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/09/climate/hurricane-dorian-trump-tweet.html|title=Commerce Chief Threatened Firings at NOAA After Trump's Dorian Tweets, Sources Say|date=September 9, 2019|work=The New York Times|access-date=September 10, 2019}}</ref>

Meanwhile, ''The Washington Post'' reported that NOAA had twice ordered National Weather Service employees not to provide "any opinion" on Hurricane Dorian and to "only stick with official National Hurricane Center forecasts". The first order came after Trump's September 1 comments and the Birmingham, Alabama National Weather Service's contradiction of Trump. The second order came on September 4 after Trump displayed an August 29 map that was altered with a black marker to show that Hurricane Dorian may hit Alabama.<ref name=Freedman>{{cite news |last1=Freedman|first1=Andrew|last2=Itkowitz|first2=Colby|last3=Samenow|first3=Jason|title=NOAA staff warned in Sept. 1 directive against contradicting Trump |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/noaa-staff-warned-in-sept-1-directive-against-contradicting-trump/2019/09/07/12a52d1a-d18f-11e9-87fa-8501a456c003_story.html|access-date=September 9, 2019 |date=September 7, 2019|newspaper=The Washington Post}}</ref>

On September 9, speaking at an Alabama National Weather Service (NWS) meeting the Director of the National Weather Service gave a speech supporting Birmingham NWS and said the team "stopped public panic" and "ensured public safety". He said that when Birmingham issued their instructions they were not aware that the calls they were receiving were a result of Trump's tweet. The acting [[NOAA Chief Scientist|chief scientist]] and assistant administrator for the ocean and atmospheric research said he is "pursuing the potential violations" of the agency's scientific integrity policy.<ref>{{cite web|title=NOAA scientist: agency likely broke science integrity rules|url=https://www.apnews.com/e7a4480d33ce4040b59bd48d4b832c05|agency=Associated Press|date=September 9, 2019 |access-date=September 15, 2019}}</ref>

== Flag ==
[[File: NOAA Flag.svg|thumb|Flag of NOAA]]

The NOAA flag is a modification of the flag of one of its predecessor organizations, the [[United States Coast and Geodetic Survey]]. The Coast and Geodetic Survey's flag, authorized in 1899 and in use until 1970, was blue, with a white circle centered in it and a red triangle centered within the circle. It symbolized the use of [[triangulation]] in [[surveying]], and was flown by ships of the Survey.<ref name="Pan">{{cite book|last1=Lul Pan Chuol|first1=Jock|title=The United States Outer Executive Departments and Independent Establishments and Government Corporations|date=April 29, 2010|publisher=Xlibris |isbn=978-1-4500-8674-5}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration |title=A proud tradition: The evolution of NOAA’s flags |url=https://www.noaa.gov/heritage/stories/proud-tradition-evolution-of-noaas-flags |website=National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration |publisher=National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration |access-date=1 December 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250424221851/https://www.noaa.gov/heritage/stories/proud-tradition-evolution-of-noaas-flags |archive-date=2025-04-24 }}</ref>

When NOAA was established in 1970 and the Coast and Geodetic Survey's assets became a part of NOAA, NOAA based its own flag on that of the Coast and Geodetic Survey. The NOAA flag is, in essence, the Coast and Geodetic Survey flag, with the NOAA logo—a circle divided by the silhouette of a seabird into an upper dark blue and a lower light blue section, but with the "NOAA" legend omitted—centered within the red triangle. NOAA ships in [[Ship commissioning|commission]] display the NOAA flag; those with only one [[Mast (sailing)|mast]] fly it immediately beneath the ship's [[commissioning pennant]] or the personal flag of a civilian official or [[flag officer]] if one is aboard the ship, while multimasted vessels fly it at the masthead of the forwardmost mast.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://mysite.verizon.net/vzeohzt4/Seaflags/noaa/noaa.html|title=National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Flags|access-date=January 10, 2009|url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081224142440/http://mysite.verizon.net/vzeohzt4/Seaflags/noaa/noaa.html|archive-date=December 24, 2008}}</ref> NOAA ships fly the same [[Ensign (flag)|ensign]] as [[United States Navy]] ships but fly the NOAA flag as a distinguishing mark to differentiate themselves from Navy ships.

== See also ==
{{Portal|Oceans|Spaceflight}}
<!--please add in alphanumeric order -->
* {{annotated link|Center for Environmental Technology|abbreviation=CET}}
* {{annotated link|Climate Mirror}}
* {{annotated link|Earth Science Information Partners|abbreviation=ESIP Federation}}
* {{annotated link|List of auxiliaries of the United States Navy}}
* {{annotated link|Marine Mammal Protection Act}}
* {{annotated link|NOAA National Operational Model Archive and Distribution System (NOMADS)}}
* {{annotated link|NOAAS Okeanos Explorer}}
* {{annotated link|NOAA's Environmental Real-time Observation Network}}
* {{annotated link|SciLands|aka=NOAA's Virtual World Program}}
* {{annotated link|Office of Naval Research}}
* {{annotated link|Title 15 of the Code of Federal Regulations}}
* {{annotated link|United States Fish and Wildlife Service}}
* {{annotated link|United States Naval Research Laboratory}}
* {{annotated link|University-National Oceanographic Laboratory System}}
* {{annotated link|Volcanic Ash Advisory Center}}
* {{annotated link|Weather Modification Operations and Research Board}}

'''Former:'''
* {{annotated link|Environmental Science Services Administration}}
* {{annotated link|Minerals Management Service}}
* {{annotated link|United States Coast and Geodetic Survey}}
* {{annotated link|United States Fish Commission}}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category}}
{{Library resources box}}
* {{Official website|https://www.noaa.gov}}
* [https://www.federalregister.gov/agencies/national-oceanic-and-atmospheric-administration NOAA] in the ''[[Federal Register]]''
* [https://fishing-app.gpsnauticalcharts.com/i-boating-fishing-web-app/fishing-marine-charts-navigation.html?noaa-enc-charts=latest&layers=all&vectors=1#11.32/37.9133/-122.4131 NOAA ENC Charts Viewer]

{{USDC agencies}}
{{US research agencies}}
{{ES Government}}
{{Underwater diving|trareg}}
{{Presidency of Richard Nixon}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration| ]]
[[Category:American organizations established in 1970]]
[[Category:Climate change policy in the United States]]
[[Category:Earth sciences organizations]]
[[Category:Government agencies established in 1970]]
[[Category:Governmental meteorological agencies in North America]]
[[Category:Governmental hydrological agencies]]
[[Category:Oceanographic organizations]]
[[Category:Satellite operators]]
[[Category:Scientific organizations based in the United States]]
[[Category:Scientific organizations established in 1970]]
[[Category:United States Department of Commerce agencies]]