NOAA's National Ocean Service

<!DOCTYPE html> <html lang="en"> <head> <meta charset="utf-8"> <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0"> <title>NOAA's National Ocean Service - About Us</title> <meta name="keywords" content="Ocean Service, ocean, coast, chart, navigation, NOAA, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, sea, Pacific, Atlantic, Arctic, Antarctic, Southern Ocean, Indian Ocean, beach, oceans, seas, beaches, reef, coral, wave, waves, climate, surf, ship, ships, boat, boats, hurricane, typhoon, tsunami, cyclone, el nino, la nina"> <meta name="DC.title" content="NOAA's National Ocean Service"> <meta name="DC.description" content="In the U.S., where over half of us live along the coast and more than 78 percent of our overseas trade by volume comes and goes along our marine highways, the health of our coasts is intricately connected to the health of our nation's economy. The National Ocean Service (NOS) translates science, tools, and services into action, to address threats to coastal areas such as climate change, population growth, port congestion, and contaminants in the environment, all working towards healthy coasts and healthy economies."> <meta name="description" content="In the U.S., where over half of us live along the coast and more than 78 percent of our overseas trade by volume comes and goes along our marine highways, the health of our coasts is intricately connected to the health of our nation's economy. The National Ocean Service (NOS) translates science, tools, and services into action, to address threats to coastal areas such as climate change, population growth, port congestion, and contaminants in the environment, all working towards healthy coasts and healthy economies."> <meta name="DC.creator" content="US Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration"> <meta name="DC.date.created" scheme="ISO8601" content="2013-06-01"> <meta name="DC.language" scheme="DCTERMS.RFC1766" content="EN-US"> <meta property="og:image" content="https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/bs4/img/homepage-backgrounds/nosbg-pigeonpointlighthouse.jpg" /> <link href="/bs4/css/aos.css" rel="stylesheet"> <style> .jumbotron-home-banner { color: white; background-image: linear-gradient(to top, rgba(245, 246, 252, 0.2), rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9)), url('/bs4/img/homepage-backgrounds/nosbg-pigeonpointlighthouse.jpg'); /* for hurricanes, use image from current hurricane as bg image, which you can get from NESDIS*/ background-position: center; background-repeat: no-repeat; background-size: cover; height: 50vh; } </style> </head> <body class="about">  <meta property="og:image" content="/apple-icon-144x144.png" /> <meta http-equiv="X-UA-Compatible" content="IE=edge"> <link href="/bs4/css/bootstrap.min.css" rel="stylesheet"> <link href="/font-awesome/css/all.css" rel="stylesheet"> <link href="/bs4/css/theme.css" rel="stylesheet"> <link href="https://fonts.googleapis.com/css?family=Source+Sans+Pro:300,400,400i,700" rel="stylesheet">    <link rel="apple-touch-icon" sizes="57x57" href="/apple-icon-57x57.png" /> <link rel="apple-touch-icon" sizes="72x72" href="/apple-icon-72x72.png" /> <link rel="apple-touch-icon" sizes="144x144" href="/apple-icon-144x144.png" /> <link rel="apple-touch-icon-precomposed" sizes="57x57" href="/apple-icon-57x57-precomposed.png" /> <link rel="apple-touch-icon-precomposed" sizes="72x72" href="/apple-icon-72x72-precomposed.png" /> <link rel="apple-touch-icon-precomposed" sizes="144x144" href="/apple-icon-144x144-precomposed.png" /> <link rel="shortcut icon" href="/favicon.ico">  <header> <div class="usa-banner"> <small> <p class="text-center"> <img class="flag" src="/bs4/img/flag.png" alt="U.S. flag"> An official website of the United States government. <br class="d-md-none"> <a data-toggle="collapse" href="#collapse-usa" role="button" aria-expanded="false" aria-controls="collapseExample">Here's how you know we're official. </a> </p> </small> <div class="collapse pb-3" id="collapse-usa"> <div class="card-deck mx-5 mt-3"> <div class="card border-primary mb-4"> <div class="row no-gutters"> <div class="col-md-12"> <div class="card-body"> <h5 class="card-title small text-uppercase"><svg id="Layer_2" data-name="Layer 2" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 60 55" width="30" height="25"><defs><style>.cls-3{fill:#007faa;}.cls-4{fill:none;stroke:#046b99;stroke-miterlimit:10;}</style></defs><title>dot gov icon</title><path class="cls-3" d="M36.5,20.91v1.36H35.15a0.71,0.71,0,0,1-.73.68H18.23a0.71,0.71,0,0,1-.73-0.68H16.14V20.91l10.18-4.07Zm0,13.57v1.36H16.14V34.48a0.71,0.71,0,0,1,.73-0.68h18.9A0.71,0.71,0,0,1,36.5,34.48ZM21.57,23.62v8.14h1.36V23.62h2.71v8.14H27V23.62h2.71v8.14h1.36V23.62h2.71v8.14h0.63a0.71,0.71,0,0,1,.73.68v0.68H17.5V32.45a0.71,0.71,0,0,1,.73-0.68h0.63V23.62h2.71Z"/><circle class="cls-4" cx="27" cy="27.12" r="26"/></svg> <strong>Official websites use .gov</strong></h5> <p class="card-text"><small>A <strong>.gov</strong> website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.</small></p> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="card border-primary mb-4"> <div class="row no-gutters"> <div class="col-md-12"> <div class="card-body"> <h5 class="card-title small text-uppercase"><svg id="Layer_1" data-name="Layer 1" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 60 55" width="30" height="25"><defs><style>.cls-1{fill:#549500;}.cls-2{fill:none;stroke:#458600;stroke-miterlimit:10;}</style></defs><title>https icon</title><path class="cls-1" d="M34.72,34.84a1.29,1.29,0,0,1-1.29,1.29H20.57a1.29,1.29,0,0,1-1.29-1.29V27.12a1.29,1.29,0,0,1,1.29-1.29H21V23.26a6,6,0,0,1,12,0v2.57h0.43a1.29,1.29,0,0,1,1.29,1.29v7.72Zm-4.29-9V23.26a3.43,3.43,0,0,0-6.86,0v2.57h6.86Z"/><circle class="cls-2" cx="27" cy="27.12" r="26"/></svg> <strong>Secure websites use HTTPS</strong></h5> <p class="card-text"><small>A small lock or <strong>https://</strong> means you鈥檝e safely connected to a .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.</small></p> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="w-100 d-none d-sm-block d-md-none">  </div> </div> </div> </div>   <div class="navbar navbar-expand-md" role="navigation" aria-selected="false"> <button type="button" class="navbar-toggler" data-toggle="collapse" data-target="#navigation"> <span class="sr-only">Toggle navigation</span> </button> <button type="button" class="navbar-toggler" data-toggle="collapse" data-target="#search"> <span class="sr-only">Toggle search</span> </button> <div class="navbar-brand ml-auto" role="banner" aria-selected="false"> <div id="boxes-box-header_logo"> <a class="logo" href="/welcome.html"><img src="/bootstrap/img/noaa-logo-rgb-2022.svg" alt="National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration logo" width="74" height="74"></a> <a class="site-name" href="/welcome.html">National Ocean Service</a> <a class="site-slogan" href="https://noaa.gov">National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration</a></div> </div> <div class="navbar navbar-light bg-white ml-auto mr-auto m-3 "> <form id="input-search-form" class="input-search" action="https://search.usa.gov/search" method="GET"> <input name="affiliate" type="hidden" value="oceanservice.noaa.gov" /> <label for="header-search" class="sr-only">Search</label> <input type="search" id="header-search" name="query" placeholder="Search"> <button type="submit" class="input-search__button"><img src="/bs4/img/search_icon_black.png"><span class="sr-only">Search National Ocean Service</span></button> </form> </div> </div>  <nav class="navbar navbar-expand-lg navbar-dark navbar-nos" role="navigation" aria-checked="false" > <a href="/welcome.html" class="navbar-brand" alt="Home page" aria-label="Home page"></a> <button class="navbar-toggler navbar-toggler-right" type="button" data-toggle="collapse" data-target="#navbarNavDropdown" aria-controls="navbarNavDropdown" aria-label="Toggle navigation" aria-haspopup="true" aria-expanded="false"> <span class="navbar-toggler-icon"></span> </button> <div class="nav navbar-nav navbar-collapse justify-content-center navbar-toggleable-xm collapse" id="navbarNavDropdown"> <ul class="navbar-nav mx-auto" > <li class="nav-item"> <a class="nav-link home" href="/" role="navigation">Home</a> </li> <li class="nav-item"> <a class="nav-link facts" href="/facts/" role="navigation">Ocean Facts</a> </li> <li class="nav-item dropdown"> <a class="nav-link explore dropdown-toggle" href="#" id="navbarnos" data-toggle="dropdown" role="navigation" aria-haspopup="true" aria-expanded="false">Topics</a> <div class="dropdown-menu" aria-labelledby="navbarnos"> <a class="dropdown-item" href="/topics/">Explore All Topics</a> <a class="dropdown-item" href="/arctic/">Arctic</a> <a class="dropdown-item" href="/profiles/">Careers</a> <a class="dropdown-item" href="/economy/">Economy</a> <a class="dropdown-item" href="/ecosystems/">Ecosystems</a> <a class="dropdown-item" href="/geodesy/">Geodesy</a> <a class="dropdown-item" href="/hazards/">Hazards</a> <a class="dropdown-item" href="/international/">International</a> <a class="dropdown-item" href="/navigation/">Navigation</a> <a class="dropdown-item" href="/observations/">Observations</a> <a class="dropdown-item" href="/ocean/">Ocean</a> <a class="dropdown-item" href="/recreation/">Recreation</a> <a class="dropdown-item" href="/hazards/sealevelrise/">Sea Level Rise</a> <a class="dropdown-item" href="/map-stories/">Story Maps</a> <a class="dropdown-item" href="/tools/">Tools</a> </div> </li> <li class="nav-item"> <a class="nav-link education" href="/education/" role="navigation">Education</a> </li>  <li class="nav-item"> <a class="nav-link posts" href="/news/" role="navigation">News</a> </li> <li class="nav-item"> <a class="nav-link media-podcast" href="/podcast/" role="navigation">Podcasts</a> </li> <li class="nav-item"> <a class="nav-link media-video" href="/video/" role="navigation">Video</a> </li> <li class="nav-item"> <a class="nav-link media-images" href="/gallery/" role="navigation">Images</a> </li> <li class="nav-item"> <a class="nav-link about" href="/about/" role="navigation">About Us</a> </li> </ul> </div> </nav>  </header>  <nav aria-label="breadcrumb"> <ol class="breadcrumb jumbo-center"> <li class="breadcrumb-item"><a href="/">Home</a></li> <li class="breadcrumb-item active" aria-current="page">About Us</li> </ol> </nav> <div id="about" class="jumbotron-bgcolor"> <main role="main"> <section class="jumbotron-home-banner" role="img" aria-label="lighthouse"> <div class="container"> <h1 class="masthead">The National Ocean Service</h1> <p class="text-center masthead font-weight-bold">America's coastal and ocean agency</p> <div class="mt-5"></div> </div> </section> </main> </div> <div class="container-aboutnav"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-12"> <div class="container pt-3 pb-3"> <div class="mt-2"></div> <nav class="navbar navbar-expand-lg text-center d-flex justify-content-center"> <button type="button" style="background-color: #fff;" class="btn btn-outline-about ml-2 mr-2 mb-2"> <a class="navbar-about" style="text-decoration:none;" href="#">Mission and Priorities</a> </button> <button type="button" class="btn btn-about ml-2 mr-2 mb-2"> <a class="navbar-about" style="text-decoration:none;" href="/about/strategic-plan.html">Strategic Plan</a> </button> <button type="button" class="btn btn-about ml-2 mr-2 mb-2"> <a class="navbar-about" style="text-decoration:none;" href="/about/leadership.html">Leadership</a> </button> <button type="button" class="btn btn-about ml-2 mr-2 mb-2"> <a class="navbar-about" style="text-decoration:none;" href="/about/faq.html">Frequently Asked Questions</a> </button> </nav> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="container"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-9"> <h2 class="py-5">The National Ocean Service provides <strong>data, tools, and services</strong> that protect our ecosystems and enhance climate and economic resilience. </h2> <div class="embed-responsive embed-responsive-16by9"> <figure> <video controls preload="metadata" poster="/about/video/nos-aa-strategicplan.jpg"> <source src="/about/video/nos-aa-strategicplan.mp4" type="video/mp4"> <track src="/about/video/nos-aa-strategicplan.vtt" kind="subtitles" srclang="en" label="English" default> <p>It appears that your browser doesn't support HTML5 video. Here's a <a href="/about/video/nos-aa-strategicplan.mp4">direct link to the video instead</a>.</p> </video> </figure> </div> <div class="pt-3"></div> <figcaption class="figure-caption"> <p>In this video message, NOS Assistant Administrator Nicole LeBoeuf shares the NOS Strategic Plan for 2024-2028. <a href="#transcript">Video Transcript</a></p> </figcaption>  <div id="missionvision" data-aos="fade"> <h3>Our <strong>Mission</strong> and <strong>Vision</strong></h3> <div> <div style="float:right; padding:2%; vertical-align:middle;"> <div class="pt-3"></div> <div class="justify-content-center"> <nav class="justify-content-center"> <p><a href="/about/strategic-plan.html"> <button type="button" class="btn btn-about w-100 text-uppercase"><span style="font-size: 25px; color: white; padding-right:5px"><i class="fas fa-plus"></i></span> Our priorities in depth</button> </a> </p> <p><a href="/about/NOS-Strategic-Plan-FY-24-28.pdf"> <button type="button" class="btn btn-about w-100 text-uppercase"><span style="font-size: 25px; color: white; padding-right:5px"><i class="fas fa-file-pdf"></i></span> Download the NOS Strategic Plan</button> </a> </p> </nav> </div> </div> <div class="pb-3"></div> </div> <p style="background-color: #f8f9fa; border: 1px solid rgba(0,0,0,.125); padding:2%; font-size: larger;">Our <strong>mission</strong>: Provide science-based solutions through collaborative partnerships to address evolving economic, environmental, and social pressures on our Great Lakes, ocean, and coasts.<br><br>Our <strong>vision</strong>: The nation鈥檚 coastal and Great Lakes communities, ecosystems, and economies are thriving and resilient to current and future environmental threats.</p></div> <div class="pt-3"> </div> <div id="goals" data-aos="fade"> <h3 class="pt-2">Our <strong>Priorities</strong></h3> <p>NOS is dedicated to advancing the following priorities:</p> <div class="row no-gutters"> <div class="col-md-4"> <a href="/about/strategic-plan.html#about1"><img class="card-img pt-4" src="/about/1-coastal-resilience.jpg" class="figure-img img-fluid" alt=""></a></div> <div class="col-md-8"> <div class="card-body"> <h5 class="card-title"> <a href="/about/strategic-plan.html#about1"><strong>1. Increase U.S. Coastal Resilience</strong></a></h5> <p class="card-text">Coastal decision-makers rely on our diverse products and services to assess risks, plan, and take action to increase resilience to these stressors and impacts. </p> </div> </div> <div class="pt-1"></div> <div class="col-md-4"> <a href="/about/strategic-plan.html#about2"><img class="card-img pt-4" src="/about/2-equity.jpg" class="figure-img img-fluid" alt=""></a></div> <div class="col-md-8"> <div class="card-body"> <h5 class="card-title"> <a href="/about/strategic-plan.html#about2"><strong>2. Make Equity Central to Our Mission</strong></a></h5> <p class="card-text">NOS will continue to respond to the results of NOAA-led climate and equity assessments and will address barriers to achieving more equitable service delivery. </p> </div> </div> <div class="pt-1"></div> <div class="col-md-4"> <a href="/about/strategic-plan.html#about3"><img class="card-img pt-4" src="/about/3-blue-economy.jpg" class="figure-img img-fluid" alt=""></a></div> <div class="col-md-8"> <div class="card-body"> <h5 class="card-title"> <a href="/about/strategic-plan.html#about3"><strong>3. Accelerate Growth of the Ocean Enterprise and the Blue Economy</strong></a></h5> <p class="card-text">NOS will utilize our roles to help revolutionize the way we interact with the ocean and each other to meet societal needs.</p> </div> </div> <div class="pt-1"></div> <div class="col-md-4"> <a href="/about/strategic-plan.html#about4"><img class="card-img pt-4" src="/about/4-equitable-access.jpg" class="figure-img img-fluid" alt=""></a></div> <div class="col-md-8"> <div class="card-body"> <h5 class="card-title"> <a href="/about/strategic-plan.html#about4"><strong>4. Conserve, Restore, and Connect Healthy Coastal and Marine Ecosystems</strong></a></h5> <p class="card-text">We will apply our scientific understanding, resource management, and foundational observations to provide products and services that facilitate sustainable and equitable resource use.</p> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="mb-5"></div> <h3 id="transcript">Video Transcript</h3> <p>Hi, I'm Nicole LeBoeuf, assistant administrator for the National Ocean Service. I am pleased and excited to share with you the new NOS strategic plan. </p> <p>Coastal communities are facing a myriad of environmental and climate change threats; placing lives, livelihoods and ecosystems at risk. From sea level rise, marine debris, hurricanes and more. Our planet is changing faster in the ocean and along our coasts than anywhere else, requiring innovative and thoughtful solutions to complex challenges. Aging infrastructure and growing coastal populations exacerbate risk to communities. And all of these pressures can have a disproportionate impact on underserved and underrepresented populations. </p> <p>The critical role that NOS plays in support of our coastal communities and the entire nation is needed now more than ever. NOS provides a diverse suite of products and programs that bolster, protect, and restore our natural resources and economy. We produce integral data to ensure safe and efficient maritime transportation and commerce; provide expert scientific support and response to environmental threats; manage marine protected areas; and work directly with regional and local managers to help communities prepare for the future. The services we provide play a critical role in the daily lives of tens of millions of Americans, whether they're taking a vacation at the beach or wearing sneakers that were delivered to the local mall after coming into our country via one of our ports. </p> <p>Our new strategic plan focuses on meeting our nation's coastal challenges by utilizing the broad expertise across NOS program offices, playing to our strengths and uniting our workforce in common purpose more than ever in the history of the organization. This new plan focuses on four overarching priorities. Within this document are NOS-wide priority pathways and operating principles for leveraging our trusted partnerships and proven expertise to meet increasing demands for what we do across agencies, economic sectors, communities and geographies, including providing leadership on the world stage. Through the priorities and objectives laid out in this document, NOS will remain true to our workforce and our core values as they are the foundation upon which our mission and service to the nation firmly rests.</p> <p>On behalf of the National Ocean Service, thank you for your interest in and contributions to the development and implementation of our new strategic plan.</p> <div class="mt-5"></div> </div>  <div class="col-md-3"> <div class="card card-highlight mb-5 mt-5 bg-light"> <div class="card-body p-3"> <h4 class="card-title p-2 text-center"><strong>MORE INFORMATION</strong></h4>  <div id="accordion" class="myaccordion"> <div class="card" id="cardA"> <div class="card-header" id="headingA" style="background-color:#d3d3d3;"> <button class="d-flex align-items-center justify-content-between btn btn-link collapsed" data-toggle="collapse" data-target="#collapseA" aria-expanded="false" aria-controls="collapseA"> <p class="mb-0 text-uppercase">National Ocean Service</p>  </button> </div> <div id="collapseA" class="collapse.show d-print-block" aria-labelledby="headingA" data-parent="#accordion">  <div class="card-body"> <p> <a href="/about/introduction-nos.pdf" download="introduction-nos.pdf"> <button type="button" class="btn btn-outline-primary w-100 p-2"> National Ocean Service Introduction (PDF) </button> </a> </p> <hr> <p> <a href="/about/reports.html"> <button type="button" class="btn btn-outline-primary w-100 p-2"> NOS Annual Accomplishments & Science Reports</button> </a> </p> <p> <a href="/about/diversity.html"> <button type="button" class="btn btn-outline-primary w-100 p-2"> Explore the Breadth of Diversity in Our Work and Mission </button> </a> </p> <p> <a href="/education/about.html"> <button type="button" class="btn btn-outline-primary w-100 p-2"> About NOS Education </button> </a> </p> <p> <a href="/disaster-response/"> <button type="button" class="btn btn-outline-primary w-100 p-2"> NOS Disaster Response Support </button> </a> </p> <p> <a href="/about/environmental-compliance.html"> <button type="button" class="btn btn-outline-primary w-100 p-2"> NOS Environmental Compliance </button> </a> </p> <p> <a href="/about/grants.html"> <button type="button" class="btn btn-outline-primary w-100 p-2"> NOS Grants </button> </a> </p> <p> <a href="/about/nos-org-chart-divisions.pdf"> <button type="button" class="btn btn-outline-primary w-100 p-2"> NOS Organization Chart </button> </a> </p> <p> <a href="/programs/"> <button type="button" class="btn btn-outline-primary w-100 p-2"> NOS Program Offices </button> </a> </p> <p> <a href="/about/science-seminars.html"> <button type="button" class="btn btn-outline-primary w-100 p-2"> NOS Science Seminars </button> </a> </p> </div> </div> </div>  <div class="card" id="cardB"> <div class="card-header" id="headingB" style="background-color:#d3d3d3;"> <button class="d-flex align-items-center justify-content-between btn btn-link collapsed" data-toggle="collapse" data-target="#collapseB" aria-expanded="false" aria-controls="collapseB"> <p class="mb-0">NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION</p> </button> </div> <div id="collapseB" class="collapse d-print-block" aria-labelledby="headingB" data-parent="#accordion">  <div class="card-body"> <p> <a href="https://www.noaa.gov/"> <button type="button" class="btn btn-outline-primary w-100 p-2"> NOAA.gov </button> </a> </p> <p> <a href="https://www.performance.noaa.gov/"> <button type="button" class="btn btn-outline-primary w-100 p-2"> NOAA Organizational Structure, Mission and Statutory Authority </button> </a> </p> <p> <a href="https://www.noaa.gov/organization/inclusion-and-civil-rights"> <button type="button" class="btn btn-outline-primary w-100 p-2"> NOAA Office of Inclusion and Civil Rights </button> </a> </p> <p> <a href="https://www.noaa.gov/organization/inclusion-and-civil-rights/no-fear-act"> <button type="button" class="btn btn-outline-primary w-100 p-2"> NOAA No FEAR Act Information </button> </a> </p> </div> </div> </div>  <div class="card" id="cardC"> <div class="card-header" id="headingC" style="background-color:#d3d3d3;"> <button class="d-flex align-items-center justify-content-between btn btn-link collapsed" data-toggle="collapse" data-target="#collapseC" aria-expanded="false" aria-controls="collapseC"> <p class="mb-0 text-uppercase">Department of Commerce</p>  </button> </div> <div id="collapseC" class="collapse d-print-block" aria-labelledby="headingC" data-parent="#accordion">  <div class="card-body"> <p> <a href="https://www.commerce.gov/"> <button type="button" class="btn btn-outline-primary w-100 p-2"> U.S. Department of Commerce </button> </a> </p> <p> <a href="https://www.osec.doc.gov/bmi/budget/budgetsub_perf_strategicplans.htm"> <button type="button" class="btn btn-outline-primary w-100 p-2"> DOC Strategic Plan and Annual Performance Plans </button> </a> </p> <p> <a href="https://www.commerce.gov/bureaus-and-offices/os/business-liaison"> <button type="button" class="btn btn-outline-primary w-100 p-2"> DOC Office of Business Liaison </button> </a> </p> </div> </div> </div>  <div class="card" id="cardD"> <div class="card-header" id="headingD" style="background-color:#d3d3d3;"> <button class="d-flex align-items-center justify-content-between btn btn-link collapsed" data-toggle="collapse" data-target="#collapseD" aria-expanded="false" aria-controls="collapseD"> <p class="mb-0 text-uppercase"><a href="/about/faq.html">Frequently Asked Questions</a></p> </button> </div>   </div>  </div> <div class="pb-2"></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div>   </div> </div> </div>   <script src="/bs4/js/jquery-3.7.1.slim.min.js"></script> <script src="/bs4/js/bootstrap.bundle.min.js"></script> <script src="/bs4/js/aos.js"></script>  <footer role="contentinfo"> <a href="#" id="scroll-to-top"><img src="/bs4/img/Scroll-To-Top_Icon@2x_b.png" alt="scroll to top arrow icon"></a> <div id="footer-social"> <div class="col-12 pt-3" style="background-color: #ccc;"> <h5 class="sr-only"> Social</h5> <ul class="nav list-unstyled text-small justify-content-center pb-3"> <li><a href="https://twitter.com/noaaocean"><img class="d-inline align-middle p-2" src="/bs4/img/x-black.png" alt="X Logo"/> </a></li> <li><a href="https://www.facebook.com/usoceangov/"><img class="d-inline align-middle p-2" src="/bs4/img/facebook-color.png" alt="Facebook Logo"/> </a></li> <li><a href="https://www.instagram.com/noaaocean/"><img class="d-inline align-middle p-2" src="/bs4/img/instagram-color.png" alt="Instagram Logo"> <//a></li> <li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/usoceangov"><img class="d-inline align-middle p-2" src="/bs4/img/youtube-color.png" alt="Youtube Logo"> </a></li> <li><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/noaa-national-ocean-service"><img class="d-inline align-middle p-2" src="/bs4/img/linkedin-color.png" alt="LinkedIn Logo"> </a></li> </ul> </div> </div> <div id="footer-top"> <div class="container"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-12 py-2 mt-5"> <ul class="nav justify-content-center"> <li class="nav-item m-1"> <a href="/survey.html" class="btn btn-primary-alt btn-lg" role="button" aria-pressed="true">Provide Feedback</a> </li> <li class="nav-item m-1"> <a href="/contact.html" class="btn btn-primary-alt btn-lg" role="button" aria-pressed="true">Contact Us</a></li> <li class="nav-item m-1"> <a href="/contact.html#feedback" class="btn btn-primary-alt btn-lg active" role="button" aria-pressed="true">Report an error</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div id="footer-main"> <div class="container pt-5 pb-5"> <div class="row"> <div align="center" class="col-lg-4 col-sm-4 col-xs-12 pb-3"> <a href="https://www.noaa.gov/"><img src="/bootstrap/img/noaa_logo_circle_72x72.svg" alt="NOAA Logo" /></a> <p class="text-center pt-2"> <em>Science. Service.<br>Stewardship.</em> </p> </div> <div class="col-lg-4 col-sm-4 col-xs-12"> <h6 class="sr-only"> About NOS </h6> <ul class="list-unstyled text-small px-5"> <li><a href="/about/welcome.html">About Us</a></li> <li><a href="/programs/welcome.html">NOS Program Offices</a></li> <li><a href="/newsroom/welcome.html">Media Inquiries</a></li> <li><a href="/about/acknowledgements.html">Website Acknowledgements</a></li> <li><a href="/sitemap.html">Site Index</a></li> <li><a href="/disclaimer.html">Disclaimer</a></li> </ul> </div> <div class="col-lg-4 col-sm-4 col-xs-12"> <h6 class="sr-only"> More Resources </h6> <ul class="list-unstyled text-small px-5"> <li><a href="https://www.noaa.gov/information-technology/foia">Freedom of Information Act</a></li> <li><a href="/accessibility-statement.html">Accessibility</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.noaa.gov/office-of-chief-information-officer/it-policy-oversight/information-quality">Information Quality</a></li> <li><a href="/privacy.html">Privacy Policy</a></li> <li><a href="https://sites.google.com/noaa.gov/nos-for-employees-intranet">NOS For Employees</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.usa.gov/">USA.gov</a></li> </ul> </div> <div class="container pt-2"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-12"> <ul class="nav footer-mainnav"> <li class="nav-item m-3"> <a href="https://www.commerce.gov">Department of Commerce</a></li> <li class="nav-item m-3"> <a href="https://www.noaa.gov/">National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)</a></li> <li class="nav-item m-3"> <a href="/">National Ocean Service</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </footer>    <script type="text/javascript"> $.bigfoot(); </script> <script> AOS.init({ // Global settings: disable: false, // accepts following values: 'phone', 'tablet', 'mobile', boolean, expression or function startEvent: 'DOMContentLoaded', // name of the event dispatched on the document, that AOS should initialize on initClassName: 'aos-init', // class applied after initialization animatedClassName: 'aos-animate', // class applied on animation useClassNames: false, // if true, will add content of `data-aos` as classes on scroll disableMutationObserver: false, // disables automatic mutations' detections (advanced) debounceDelay: 50, // the delay on debounce used while resizing window (advanced) throttleDelay: 99, // the delay on throttle used while scrolling the page (advanced) // Settings that can be overridden on per-element basis, by `data-aos-*` attributes: offset: 120, // offset (in px) from the original trigger point delay: 150, // values from 0 to 3000, with step 50ms duration: 1200, // values from 0 to 3000, with step 50ms easing: 'ease', // default easing for AOS animations once: false, // whether animation should happen only once - while scrolling down mirror: false, // whether elements should animate out while scrolling past them anchorPlacement: 'top-bottom', // defines which position of the element regarding to window should trigger the animation }); </script> <script> $("#accordion").on("hide.bs.collapse show.bs.collapse", e => { $(e.target) .prev() .find("i:last-child") .toggleClass("fa-minus fa-plus"); }); $("#accordion").on("shown.bs.collapse", e => { $("html, body").animate( { scrollTop: $(e.target) .prev() .offset().top }, 400 ); }); </script> <script> $(document).ready(function(){ $(window).scroll(function () { if ($(this).scrollTop() > 50) { $('#back-to-top').fadeIn(); } else { $('#back-to-top').fadeOut(); } }); // scroll body to 0px on click $('#back-to-top').click(function () { $('body,html').animate({ scrollTop: 0 }, 400); return false; }); }); </script>  <script type="text/javascript"> //<![CDATA[ var aid = "oceanservice.noaa.gov"; //]]> </script> <script src="https://search.usa.gov/javascripts/stats.js" type="text/javascript"> </script> <script type="text/javascript"> //<![CDATA[ var usasearch_config = { siteHandle:"oceanservice.noaa.gov" }; var script = document.createElement("script"); script.type = "text/javascript"; script.src = "//search.usa.gov/javascripts/remote.loader.js"; document.getElementsByTagName("head")[0].appendChild(script); //]]> <script> $(".jumbotron").css({ height: $(window).height() + "px" }); $(window).on("resize", function() { $(".jumbotron").css({ height: $(window).height() + "px" }); }); </script>  <script async type="text/javascript" src="https://dap.digitalgov.gov/Universal-Federated-Analytics-Min.js?agency=DOC&subagency=NOAA" id="_fed_an_ua_tag"></script>  <script async src="https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtag/js?id=G-8QRDKZKW09"></script> <script> window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; function gtag(){dataLayer.push(arguments);} gtag('js', new Date()); gtag('config', 'G-8QRDKZKW09'); </script>    <script async src="https://siteimproveanalytics.com/js/siteanalyze_6294131.js"></script> </body> </html>

CINXE.COM

NOAA's National Ocean Service - About Us