Extremophiles are organisms that live in "extreme environments," under high pressure and temperature. Bacteria often form on the rocks near the hydrothermal vents. Pictured is the Sully Vent in the ...

Lionfish (also known as turkeyfish) have venomous spines that can be very painful. Viewed from the right angle, the ornate fins of the lionfish resemble turkey plumage. That's why 'turkeyfish' is one ...

At the core of the Coastal Zone Management Act are two programs: the National Coastal Zone Management Program and the National Estuarine Research Reserve System (NERRS). The NERRS is a network of 29 ...

Fossil Fuel: Materials formed over millions of years from the remains of ancient plants and animals. Oil, natural gas, and coal are fossil fuels. Refineries: A building and equipment for processing ...

Active "smoker" hydrothermal vent chimneys about 9 meters tall are found deep in the Mariana Arc region in the Western Pacific Ocean. Credit: Pacific Ring of Fire 2004 Expedition. NOAA Office of Ocean ...

The U.S. Ocean Enterprise, a thriving ecosystem of businesses connected to ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes monitoring, generates approximately $16.4 billion in revenue annually, according to NOAA's ...

This image from CORA captures historical maximum water levels for California’s San Francisco Bay area. Water-level observations were previously only available from a few locations, tide gauge ...

Aerial view of Pensacola, Florida collected by NOAA aircraft on October 11, 2026. The National Geodetic Survey (NGS) is collecting aerial damage assessment images of coastal areas in the aftermath of ...

Land cover indicates the physical land type such as forest or open water whereas land use documents how people are using the land By comparing land cover data and maps over a period of time, coastal ...

Marine debris washed ashore in Kaho'olawe, Hawaii. While the phrase 'flotsam and jetsam' is often used to describe 'odds and ends,' each word has a specific meaning under maritime law. Flotsam and ...

Dolphins have longer noses, bigger mouths, more curved dorsal fins, and longer, leaner bodies than porpoises. The Northeastern Offshore Spotted Dolphin, shown here, has a falcate, or sickle-shaped ...

Seas are found on the margins of the ocean and are partially enclosed by land. Here, you can see that the Bering Sea is part of the Pacific Ocean. Many people use the terms "ocean" and "sea" ...