NOAA: Making Waves

The Making Waves podcast has retired, but have no fear! We combined our Making Waves, Ocean Shorts, and Diving Deeper pods into one NEW podcast called NOAA Ocean. Subscribe in your favorite podcatcher so you never miss an episode. Just search for "NOAA Ocean." If you are looking for an older Making Waves episode, head to oceanservice.noaa.gov/podcast to view our archive.

The Making Waves podcast has retired, but have no fear! We combined our Making Waves, Ocean Shorts, and Diving Deeper pods into one NEW podcast called NOAA Ocean. Subscribe in your favorite podcatcher so you never miss an episode. Just search for "NOAA Ocean." If you are looking for an older Making Waves episode, head to oceanservice.noaa.gov/podcast to view our archive.

The Making Waves podcast has retired, but have no fear! We combined our Making Waves, Ocean Shorts, and Diving Deeper podcasts into one NEW podcast called NOAA Ocean. Subscribe to the new podcast in your favorite podcatcher so you never miss an episode. Just search for "NOAA Ocean." If you are looking for an older Making Waves episode, head to oceanservice.noaa.gov/podcast to view our archive.

Boaters rely on NOAA's nautical charts for depth measurements so they don't accidentally ground on sandbars or other underwater obstructions. Take three minutes out of your day to hear Captain Shepard Smith of the NOAA Ship Thomas Jefferson discuss how nautical charts are updated—and how NOAA is using promising new technology (ocean robots!) that will add shallow depths to nautical charts. Episode permanent link and show notes

Take a virtual journey to Penobscot Bay, Maine, to see how harbor pilots use U.S. Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS®) data for real-time ocean and weather conditions. This information is critical for safe navigation as pilots carefully move tankers and other vessels often carrying dangerous cargo safely in and out of port. IOOS coastal and marine data (e.g., water temperature, water level, currents, winds, and waves) are collected by many different tools including satellites, buoys, tide gauges, radar stations, and underwater vehicles. Most of the data collected are streamed online and viewable on digital maps for easy access. Episode permanent link and show notes

Ocean Today is premiering this 15-minute TRASH TALK special feature for World Ocean Day. It is specially designed to be part of your World Ocean Day festivities and beyond. In addition to the video, we have a pre-recorded 10-minute webinar for educators that provides fun activities that you can organize after the film! A perfect event for museums, zoos, aquariums, learning centers and schools. Enjoy! Please note that this movie is a large file (260 MB). Episode permanent link and show notes

Creating a habitat ecosystem map of the seafloor is a tricky process, but it's a key tool that scientists use to better understand our ocean. Learn more in this two-minute video. Episode permanent link and show notes

In this episode, we visit a research station perched at the end of a long pier in Duck, North Carolina, to get a close-up look at the microwave radar water level sensor--a revolutionary step forward in how NOAA measures water levels around the nation. Episode permanent link and show notes

This is Making Waves from NOAA's National Ocean Service. Hurricane season runs from June 1 - November 30. You know that powerful winds are destructive and can be deadly during a hurricane. But did you know that the greatest threat to life actually comes from the water — in the form of storm surge. See for yourself with this video from NOAA's Ocean Today. Episode permanent link and show notes

You know about ocean tides, but how much do you know about ocean currents? Watch our three-minute video podcast to learn what puts the motion in the ocean. Episode permanent link and show notes

How do we use sound to 'see' the sea floor? Our latest podcast explains how sonar works and includes a great visualization that shows how sound data is used to make nautical charts. Episode permanent link and show notes

In this video episode: two Civil War-era sailors lost over 150 years ago aboard the U.S.S. Monitor are laid to rest. Don't miss this moving three-minute video brought to you by NOAA's Ocean Today. Episode permanent link and show notes

It's Shark Week! Tune in to hear 'Hooked on Sharks,' the latest episode of 'On the Line,' a new podcast from our colleagues at NOAA Fisheries. 'On the Line' features interviews with NOAA scientists who study fish, marine mammals, and other ocean life. In 'Hooked on Sharks,' we hear about a research project to see if a special type of hook can help vulnerable populations of sharks to survive. Episode permanent link and show notes

Coral reefs are under intense pressure from climate change, pollution, and unsustainable use. So what can we do about it? To answer that question, we need to better understand the main threat to our reefs. Humans. Join us for a discussion about the social side of protecting coral reefs with scientist Peter Edwards from NOAA's Coral Reef Conservation Program. Episode permanent link and show notes

In this video podcast, see how real-time ocean data is aiding Coast Guard search and rescue operations. Episode permanent link and show notes

It's hurricane season. Are you prepared? Find out with this video from NOAA's Ocean Today . Episode permanent link and show notes

How do we measure elevation changes in estuaries--marshy areas where land elevations are constantly shifting? How will sea level rise affect the flora and fauna that live in these places? See how National Geodetic Survey experts are laying the groundwork to help answer these challenging questions at Waquoit Bay in Mass. Episode permanent link and show notes

In this video podcast, learn what ocean acidification is, how it's affecting marine life, and how NOAA tools are helping people monitor and adapt to changes in ocean chemistry. Episode permanent link and show notes

In this episode, watch a video about marine protected areas in North America produced by the Commission for Environmental Cooperation, a partnership between the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. Episode permanent link and show notes

In this episode, we introduce you to a new occasional podcast series called 'Sanctuary Shorts' from our National Marine Sanctuaries office. Host Matt Dozier tells us about a pioneering effort to dive on Cordell Bank in the late 1970s and a returning mission nearly 30 years later. Episode permanent link and show notes

In this episode, watch the first installment of a new three-part video series from NOAA's Ocean Today about the role of ice in our ocean. What is sea ice and why is it shrinking? Episode permanent link and show notes

In this episode: learn about the Challenger mission, an effort from the U.S. Integrated Ocean Observing System and Rutgers to send ocean gliders around the world. We then look back to the 2009 Scarlet Knight mission, the first successful ocean glider crossing of the Atlantic. We end with a screening of a teaser from the 2010 documentary 'Atlantic Crossing: a robot's daring mission.' (5:41 minutes) Episode permanent link and show notes

Think you know the ocean? In this episode, we showcase an Ocean Today video that answers many commons questions about the body of what that covers 70 percent of our Earth. (3:45 minutes) Episode permanent link and show notes

We've got an oldie but a goodie lined up for the final podcast of 2012. Did you know that the National Ocean Service helps to ensure that Santa doesn't get lost on his journey around the country on December 25th. Here's an episode that originally aired way back in 2008 about Santa and the National Geodetic Survey. Enjoy!

NOAA's Ocean Today just launched its 100th video! In this episode, we highlight this achievement and showcase the latest video from Ocean Today about an effort to promote safe and responsible whale watching. (3:32 minutes) Episode permanent link and show notes

NOAA and independent scientists recently discovered rocky reef habitats in an area of NOAA's Gulf of the Farallones National Marine Sanctuary at depths reaching 457 meters meters—places where corals and sponges had not been seen before. Did you know that corals, sponges, and countless other creatures thrive in the deep ocean—in places where sunlight doesn't reach? In this episode, learn more about the fascinating world of deep sea coral habitats in 'Coral Forests of the Deep,' a video from NOAA's Ocean Today. (3:31 minutes) Episode permanent link and show notes

We’re celebrating the 40th anniversary of what some call the most important national coastal legislation you've probably never heard of. It’s called the Coastal Zone Management Act (CZMA). We're joined by Laura McKay, Virginia's Coastal Zone Program manager, who talks about an eelgrass restoration project along Virginia’s eastern shore made possible by this Act.

This month marks the 40th anniversary of the signing of the National Marine Sanctuaries Act, which created our nation's national marine sanctuary system. What are sanctuaries? How do these special areas help to protect and conserve our ocean? We have a NOAA Ocean Today video for you in this episode to put this milestone in perspective. (4:49 minutes) Episode permanent link and show notes

We've all heard that hurricanes are one of the most powerful and destructive forces on Earth. But where do they get their strength? You’ll find the answer on this episode of Making Waves. Tune in to watch a brand new video from NOAA’s Ocean Today called 'Fuel for the Storm.' (3:31 minutes) Episode permanent link and show notes

Have you ever been to Four Corners? It’s the only place in the U.S. where four states meet at one point. A few years back, there was some confusion over the position of a monument at Four Corners that marks this spot. Some reports claimed that the position of this marker was off by two and a half miles. Today, we’re revisiting a 2009 interview with Dave Doyle, chief geodetic surveyor from NOS’s National Geodetic Survey. As you’ll hear, Four Corners is exactly where it’s supposed to be — and the reason for that is that surveying isn’t only about taking precise measurements with sophisticated equipment, it's also about history, technology, and law. Episode permanent link and show notes

Take three minutes out of your day to watch a video from NOAA's Ocean Today about marine protected areas in North America. Episode permanent link and show notes

How much do you know about NOAA’s navigation services? In this episode, Dr. Holly Bamford, National Ocean Service Deputy Assistant Administrator, talks about ‘positioning America for the future,’ an effort to focus NOS navigation services on upcoming challenges as coastal populations grow, sea levels rise, maritime commerce increases, and new navigation routes open up in the Arctic. Episode permanent link and show notes

It’s the end of May -- and that means it’s not only the start of the summer season, it’s the beginning of hurricane season. Most people know that NOAA’s National Weather Service plays a huge role when hurricanes threaten our coasts, but what role does NOAA’s National Ocean Service play? Find out in this episode -- and learn about some of the online tools and information that you can use before, during, and after hurricanes strike. Episode permanent link and show notes

Making Waves Ocean Today video Take three minutes out of your day to watch a video from NOAA's Ocean Today. In this episode, learn about the effect of black carbon -- better known as soot -- on Arctic climate. Episode permanent link and show notes

One hundred years ago this month, the RMS Titanic sank after striking an iceberg on her maiden voyage from the United Kingdom to New York City. Nearly three-quarters of the 2,200 people on board the ship perished. In recognition of this anniversary, this episode features a moving interview with Jim Delgado, Director of Maritime Heritage with NOS's Office of National Marine Sanctuaries. This is the second half of a two-part interview. Episode permanent link and show notes

One hundred years ago this month, the RMS Titanic sank after striking an iceberg on her maiden voyage from the United Kingdom to New York City. Nearly three-quarters of the 2,200 people on board the ship perished. In recognition of this anniversary, this episode features a moving interview with Jim Delgado, Director of Maritime Heritage with NOS's Office of National Marine Sanctuaries. You don't want to miss this one. This is the first half of a special two-part series. Episode permanent link and show notes

NOS's National Geodetic Survey is conducting a study on the National Mall to help the National Park Service understand the settling and shifting of the ground underneath the monuments on the National Mall, particularly after the August 2011 earthquake. Tune in to our interview with Dave Doyle, NGS Chief Geodetic Surveyor, to learn more. Episode permanent link and show notes

In 2007, hundreds of birds were found stranded or dead in California's Monterey Bay, coated with an unknown yellow-green substance that was eating away at the protective covering on their feathers. In this episode, we revisit a 2009 interview with a researcher from the University of California at Santa Cruz to learn how and why this happened. Episode permanent link and show notes

Making Waves Ocean Today video Join us as we kick off a new ocassional series to highlight some of the great videos available on NOAA's Ocean Today website. In this episode, we showcase a fantastic video about exploring the deep ocean.Episode permanent link and show notes

Join us for a talk with two NOAA experts about a multi-year effort to restore the environment in the aftermath of an oil spill that dumped 53,000 gallons of oil into San Francisco Bay. While we're focusing on this one spill, you'll get a good idea of how we deal as a nation with big spills wherever and whenever they occur along our coasts. Guests for this episode include Greg Baker, regional resource coordinator with NOAA's Office of Response and Restoration, and Natalie Cosentino-Manning, restoration program manager for the Southwest region of the U.S. with NOAA's Fisheries Restoration Center. Episode permanent link and show notes

A new chemical analysis study confirms the official estimate of how fast gases and oil were leaking during the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill; public comment period is now open for initial Gulf of Mexico restoration projects. Episode permanent link and show notes

Did you know we provide answers to over 180 questions about the ocean on our website? In this episode, we run down the top five most popular Ocean Facts as determined by readership statistics. Episode permanent link and show notes

The powerful Japanese earthquake and resulting tsunami in March, 2011, washed untold tons of marine debris into the Pacific Ocean. Carey Morishige, Pacific Islands Regional Coordinator for the NOAA Marine Debris Program, explains where this debris may be, where it's heading, what's being done about it, and what you can do to help.

NOAA is providing grants totaling over $1.6 million dollars to create seasonal and weekly toxic algal bloom forecasts that are more accurate and provide better early warning of toxic blooms in the Gulf of Maine.

A peer-reviewed study commissioned by NOAA shows the American people assign an estimated total economic value of $33.57 billion for the coral reefs of the main Hawaiian Islands.

Figuring out the exact location of a point on the Earth's surface in three dimensions is what the science of geodesy is all about. Thanks to the network of satellites in space known as the Global Positioning System, we can determine latitude and longitude with great accuracy. Heights, however, are a trickier business to nail down. In this episode, we talk with NOAA Chief Geodesist Dru Smith to learn how scientists are using measurements of gravity to refine a complex mathematical model of the Earth's shape known as the geoid. Once the new model is deployed, the hope is that we'll be able to use GPS receivers to figure out our current elevation in most places across the nation within an accuracy of two centimeters or less.

State and federal trustee agencies will use most of the funds from a $36.8 million settlement of natural resource damages to restore natural resources injured by the Nov. 7, 2007 oil spill in the San Francisco Bay and to improve Bay Area recreational opportunities impacted by the spill. The funds are part of a $44.4 million settlement with Regal Stone Limited and Fleet Management Limited, the companies responsible for the container ship Cosco Busan that spilled 53,000 gallons of oil into the bay after hitting the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge.

Join us this week for two stories and an Ocean Fact: Arctic Sea Floor Inventory. NOAA scientists are collecting environmental data off the coast of Alaska in the Chukchi Sea to get a clear picture of this underwater ecosystem before any offshore development begins. A Whale of a Partnership. NOAA, French sanctuaries join forces to protect endangered humpback whales along their annual migration route. Ocean Fact. Where is the largest protected area in NOAA's National Marine Sanctuary system?

Join us this week to take a look at the many roles and activities of the National Ocean Service when hurricanes threaten our coasts.

The NOAA Ship Fairweather is surveying remote areas of the Arctic in places where ocean depths haven’t been measured since 1867. We talk with the NOAA Corps Capt. David Neander, commander of the vessel, about the current expedition in Alaska and NOAA's broader efforts to map sparsely charted regions of the Arctic Ocean.