National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration#Flag

NOAA traces its history back to multiple agencies,{{Cite web|url=https://www.noaa.gov/heritage/our-history|title=Our history {{!}} National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration|website=Noaa.gov|language=en|access-date=May 10, 2024}} some of which are among the earliest in the federal government:{{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}}

• United States Coast and Geodetic Survey, formed in 1807
• Weather Bureau of the United States, formed in 1870
• Bureau of Commercial Fisheries, formed in 1871 (research fleet only)
• Coast and Geodetic Survey Corps, formed in 1917

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 Weather Bureau, and the uniformed Corps were absorbed in 1965.

NOAA was established within the Department of Commerce via the Reorganization Plan No. 4, 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".{{cite web|title=REORGANIZATION PLANS NOS. 3 AND 4 OF 1970 |page=6|url=https://archive.epa.gov/ocir/leglibrary/pdf/created.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://archive.epa.gov/ocir/leglibrary/pdf/created.pdf |archive-date=October 9, 2022 |url-status=live|website=Archive.epa.gov}}

NOAA is a part of the Department of Commerce rather than the 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,{{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}} and punished Hickel by not putting NOAA in the Interior Department.{{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}}

In 2007, NOAA celebrated 200 years of service in its role as successor to the U.S. Survey of the Coast.{{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}}

NOAA was officially formed in 1970.{{Cite web|url=http://www.history.noaa.gov/noaa.html|title=Our history {{!}} National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration|website=NOAA.gov |language=en|access-date=June 13, 2017}} In 2021, NOAA had 11,833 civilian employees. Its research and operations are further supported by 321 uniformed service members, who make up the NOAA Commissioned Corps.{{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}}

Project 2025 has proposed to get rid of the Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research, which would "dismantle" NOAA's research division.{{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}}{{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}}

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.{{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}} By early March, 1,300 NOAA staff members (roughly 10% of the total workforce) were laid off.{{Cite news |last=Kives |first=Bartley |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}}

Since 1993, NOAA's administrative headquarters has been located at the Silver Spring Metro Center office complex in downtown Silver Spring, Maryland.{{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}}{{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}} 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}}

File:2016-05-09 17 23 45 National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration headquarters at the intersection of Colesville Road (Maryland State Route 384) and East-West Highway (Maryland State Route 410) in Silver Spring, Montgomery County, Maryland.jpg . }} ]]

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

NOAA Chief of Staff Laura Grimm has been the Acting Under Secretary for Oceans and Atmosphere and NOAA Administrator since March 31, 2025. Nancy Hann had previously held this role since January 20, 2025, following the resignation of Rick Spinrad.{{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}}

From February 25, 2019, to January 20, 2021, Neil Jacobs, 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.{{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}} Jacobs succeeded Timothy Gallaudet, who succeeded Benjamin Friedman. The three served in series as NOAA's interim administrator throughout the first Trump Administration.{{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 }} In October 2017, Barry Lee Myers, CEO of AccuWeather, was proposed to be the agency's administrator by the Trump Administration.{{Cite news |url=https://www.geospatialworld.net/news/trump-administration-nominates-accuweather-ceo-barry-myers-head-noaa/|title=Trump administration nominates AccuWeather CEO Barry Myers to head NOAA |date=October 25, 2017|work=Geospatial World|access-date=October 25, 2017 |language=en-US |url-status=live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20171025094719/https://www.geospatialworld.net/news/trump-administration-nominates-accuweather-ceo-barry-myers-head-noaa/ |archive-date= October 25, 2017 }} After two years in the nomination process, on November 21, 2019, Myers withdrew his name from consideration due to health concerns.{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/weather/2019/11/20/white-house-pick-lead-noaa-withdraws-nomination-citing-health-concerns/ |url-access=subscription |title=White House pick to lead NOAA withdraws nomination, citing health concerns|last1=Freedman|first1=Andrew|date=November 20, 2019|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=December 3, 2019|last2=Samenow|first2=Jason|language=en-US|issn=0190-8286 |url-status=live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20191204161323/https://www.washingtonpost.com/weather/2019/11/20/white-house-pick-lead-noaa-withdraws-nomination-citing-health-concerns/ |archive-date= December 4, 2019 }}

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, 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."[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.]

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).{{cite web |url=http://www.noaa.gov/organizations.html|title=Organization | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration|website=Noaa.gov|date=March 30, 2016|access-date=April 3, 2016}} 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).

{{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.{{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}} 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).{{Cite web|url=https://www.weather.gov/about/forecastsandservice|title=NWS: Forecasts and Service|website=Weather.gov|access-date=September 24, 2019}} They are charged with issuing weather and river forecasts, 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.{{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|title=4 ways the ozone hole is linked to climate, and 1 way it isn't {{!}} NOAA Climate.gov|website=Climate.gov|access-date=December 13, 2019}}

The NWS operates NEXRAD, a nationwide network of Doppler weather radars which can detect precipitation and their velocities. Many of their products are broadcast on NOAA Weather Radio, a network of radio transmitters that broadcasts weather forecasts, severe weather statements, watches and warnings 24 hours a day.{{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}}

{{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.{{Cite web|title=National Ocean Service {{!}} United States agency|url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/National-Ocean-Service|access-date=October 12, 2021|website=Encyclopædia Britannica|language=en}}{{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}}

The National Ocean Service is composed of eight program offices: the Center for Operational Oceanographic Products and Services,{{cite web|url=http://tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov/|title=NOAA Tides & Currents|website=tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov|access-date=August 19, 2017}} the Office for Coastal Management,{{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}} the National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science,{{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}} the Office of Coast Survey,{{cite web|url=http://www.nauticalcharts.noaa.gov |title=Nautical Charts & Pubs|website=Nauticalcharts.noaa.gov|access-date=April 3, 2016}} the Office of National Geodetic Survey,{{cite web|url=http://geodesy.noaa.gov/|title=National Geodetic Survey – Home|website=Geodesy.noaa.gov|access-date=April 3, 2016}} the Office of National Marine Sanctuaries,{{cite web|url=http://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/|title=NOAA National Marine Sanctuaries|website=Sanctuaries.noaa.gov|access-date=April 3, 2016}} the Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management,{{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}} and the Office of Response and Restoration.{{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}}

There are two NOS programs, the 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.

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

File:NOAAEngineerAtWork.jpg

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.{{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}} 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-orbiting environmental satellite was launched. Current operational satellites include NOAA-15, NOAA-18, NOAA-19, GOES 13, GOES 14, GOES 15, Jason-2 and DSCOVR. In 1983, NOAA assumed operational responsibility for the Landsat satellite system.{{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}}

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

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.{{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}}{{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}}

NESDIS runs the Office of Projects, Planning, and Analysis (OPPA) formerly the Office of Systems Development,{{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}} the Office of Satellite Ground Systems (formerly the Office of Satellite Operations){{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}} the Office of Satellite and Project Operations,{{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}} the Center for Satellite Applications and Research (STAR)],{{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}} the Joint Polar Satellite System Program Office{{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}} the GOES-R Program Office, the International & Interagency Affairs Office, the Office of Space Commerce{{cite web|author=Office of Space Commerce|url=http://www.space.commerce.gov|title=Office of Space Commerce | Helping U.S. businesses use the unique medium of space to benefit our economy|website=Space.commerce.gov|access-date=April 3, 2016}} and the Office of System Architecture and Advanced Planning.

{{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.

{{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, air pollution transport and dispersion,{{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}}{{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] 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 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.{{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}}{{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}}

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 pollutant plumes, air quality, atmospheric deposition, and related variables.{{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}}{{Self-published inline|certain=yes|date=December 2017}}{{Cite web|title=Home|url=https://www.arl.noaa.gov/|website=Air Resources Laboratory|language=en-US|access-date=May 16, 2020}}

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.{{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}}

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.

In 1977, the Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory (PMEL) deployed the first successful moored equatorial current meter – the beginning of the 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.{{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}}

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

File:Wild RC8 in a NOAA de Havilland Buffalo.jpg breathing with the assistance of an oxygen mask while operating a Wild Heerbrugg RC-8 camera]]

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 Corps Commissioned Officers.{{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}} The office is led by a NOAA Corps two-star Rear Admiral, who also commands the NOAA Corps.{{cite web |url=http://www.omao.noaa.gov/learn/about-omao/leadership|title=Leadership | 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}}

{{Main|National Geodetic Survey}}

The National Geodetic Survey (NGS) is a major surveying organization in the United States.{{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 }}

{{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.{{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}}

The NOAA Commissioned Officer Corps is a uniformed service of men and women who operate NOAA ships and aircraft, and serve in scientific and administrative posts.{{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}}

• National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service (NESDIS)
• National Climatic Data Center (NCDC); Dissolved In 2015
• National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI)
• National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS or NOAA Fisheries)
• NOAA Fisheries Office of Law Enforcement (NOAA OLE)
• Seafood Inspection Program
• Central Florida Lot Seafood Inspection Office (CFLSIO)
• Pacific Islands Regional Office
• Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (PIFSC)
• 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)
• Office of National Marine Sanctuaries (ONMS)
• Monitor National Marine Sanctuary (MNMS)
• Office of Response and Restoration (OR&R)
• 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)
• Storm Prediction Center (SPC); inside the National Weather Center (NWC)
• 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)
• 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)
• 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)
• 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 Department of Defense (DOD) and Department of Homeland Security (DHS)

Since 2001, the organization has hosted the senior staff and recent chair, Susan Solomon, of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change's working group on climate science.Pearce, Fred, The Climate Files: The Battle for the Truth about Global Warming, (2010) Guardian Books, {{ISBN|978-0-85265-229-9}}, p. XVIII.

{{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".{{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}}

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.{{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}}{{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}} 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".{{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}}{{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}}

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.{{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}}

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 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.{{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}}

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.{{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}}

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 commission display the NOAA flag; those with only one 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.{{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}} NOAA ships fly the same ensign as United States Navy ships but fly the NOAA flag as a distinguishing mark to differentiate themselves from Navy ships.

{{Portal|Oceans|Spaceflight}}

• {{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|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}}

{{Reflist}}

{{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

{{USDC agencies}}

{{US research agencies}}

{{ES Government}}

{{Underwater diving|trareg}}

{{Presidency of Richard Nixon}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:1970 establishments in the United States

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:Hydrology organizations

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