Overview

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is a United States government scientific agency established on 3 October 1970 under the Department of Commerce to study and monitor Earth’s oceans, atmosphere, coastal zones and weather systems. It aims to enhance understanding of the natural environment and deliver information to inform public safety, commerce and research.

Mission and focus areas

NOAA’s mission centres on understanding and predicting changes in climate, weather, oceans and coasts, sharing scientific knowledge, and conserving and managing marine and coastal ecosystems and resources. Its core activities include environmental research, climate monitoring, severe weather forecasting, oceanographic observation and stewardship of marine habitats. NOAA’s work supports climate resilience, sustainable resource management, and environmental data for decision-makers in government, industry and science.

Structure and governance

NOAA operates as a federal agency within the US Department of Commerce and is led by an Administrator appointed by the President. Its organisational structure comprises multiple line offices, including the National Weather Service, National Ocean Service, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service, Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research, and Office of Marine and Aviation Operations. These offices coordinate research, operations and policy implementation across atmospheric, oceanic and environmental domains.

Programs and offerings

NOAA delivers a broad range of scientific data, tools and services for climate, weather and ocean information. It provides daily weather forecasts and warnings, climate projections, satellite and observational datasets, nautical charts and ecosystem assessments. NOAA manages research programmes, coastal restoration initiatives, marine resource conservation and global partnership efforts. Its outputs support sustainable planning, risk management, scientific research and international environmental cooperation.

Our mission, values and vision

NOAA’s Mission: Science. Service. Stewardship.
1. To understand and predict changes in climate, weather, ocean and coasts.

2. To share that knowledge and information with others.

3. To conserve and manage coastal and marine ecosystems and resources.

To understand and predict changes in climate, weather, the ocean and coasts

Science at NOAA is the systematic study of the structure and behavior of the ocean, atmosphere and related ecosystems; integration of research and analysis; observations and monitoring; and environmental modeling. NOAA science includes discoveries and ever new understanding of the ocean and atmosphere, and the application of this understanding to such issues as the causes and consequences of climate change, the physical dynamics of high-impact weather events, the dynamics of complex ecosystems and biodiversity and the ability to model and predict the future states of these systems. Science provides the foundation and future promise of the service and stewardship elements of NOAA’s mission.

To share that knowledge and information with others

Service is the communication of NOAA’s research, data, information and knowledge for use by the nation’s businesses, communities and people’s daily lives. NOAA services include climate predictions and projections; weather and water reports, forecasts and warnings; nautical charts and navigational information; and the continuous delivery of a range of Earth observations and scientific data sets for use by public, private and academic sectors.

To conserve and manage coastal and marine ecosystems and resources

Stewardship is NOAA’s direct use of its knowledge to protect people and the environment, as the agency exercises its direct authority to regulate and sustain marine fisheries and their ecosystems, protect endangered marine and anadromous species, protect and restore habitats and ecosystems, conserve marine sanctuaries and other protected places, respond to environmental emergencies and aid in disaster recovery. The foundation of NOAA’s long-standing record of scientific, technical and organizational excellence is its people. NOAA’s diverse functions require an equally diverse set of skills and constantly evolving abilities in its workforce.

Also underlying NOAA’s continued success is its unique infrastructure. NOAA’s core mission functions require satellite systems, ships, buoys, aircraft, research facilities, high-performance computing and information management and distribution systems. The agency provides research-to-application capabilities that can recognize and apply significant new understanding to questions, develop research products and methods and apply emerging science and technology to user needs. NOAA invests in and depends heavily on the science, management and engagement capabilities of its partners. Collectively, NOAA’s organizational enterprise-wide capabilities — its people, infrastructure, research and partnerships — are essential for NOAA to achieve its vision, mission and long-term goals.