Topic: NOAA

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is a U.S. federal science agency that studies and monitors weather, climate, oceans, and the atmosphere. NOAA’s mission is to understand and predict environmental change, protect lives and property, and support the stewardship of natural resources. Climate information from NOAA is central to climate literacy because the agency provides some of the world’s most trusted data on climate change, extreme weather, sea level rise, andmarine ecosystems. Open‑access tools, maps, and datasets from NOAA help educators, policymakers, scientists, and communities understand how Earth’s systems are changing and how those changes affect human and ecological well‑being.

Created in 1970 within the U.S. Department of Commerce, NOAA combined several older scientific agencies focused on weather forecasting, fisheries, and coastal mapping. Today, its work spans multiple specialized offices, including the National Weather Service, the National Marine Fisheries Service, the National Ocean Service, and the Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research. These divisions monitor Earth systems, conduct scientific research, and communicate environmental risks to the public.

NOAA is widely used in climate education because it provides long‑term temperature records, greenhouse gas measurements, sea‑level observations, and hazard forecasts such as hurricane tracking, drought monitoring, and heat advisories. Datasets from the National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) are foundational for understanding global warming, extreme weather patterns, and long‑term climate trends. Many global climate models rely on NOAA observations to simulate future conditions and assess climate risk.

NOAA also plays a key role in environmental and climate justice. Early warning systems from NOAA and the National Weather Service help protect frontline communities from storms, flooding, heat waves, and other climate‑driven hazards. Support for Tribal nations, coastal communities, and local governments is provided through resilience grants, mapping tools, and community science partnerships that strengthen local capacity to prepare for and respond to climate impacts. These efforts are especially important for communities that face disproportionate exposure to environmental risks.

Public debates around NOAA often center on funding constraints, political pressure on climate communication, and the difficulty of translating complex scientific data into accessible information. These tensions shape how the agency operates, yet NOAA remains a cornerstone of global climate science and a trusted source for understanding environmental change.

©2026 ClimateLit (Erica Bibbey)

Examples of NOAA in Action

• • Hurricane Forecasting: Real‑time storm tracking and intensity forecasts guide evacuations and emergency planning.

• • Heat and Drought Monitoring: NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center issues heat advisories and drought outlooks used by schools, farmers, and public health agencies.

• • Coral Reef Protection: NOAA maps coral bleaching events and supports reef‑restoration projects in Florida, Hawaii, and U.S. territories.

• • Fisheries Management: NOAA monitors fish populations and sets sustainable catch limits to protect marine ecosystems.

• • Sea‑Level Rise Mapping: Coastal tools help communities plan for flooding, storm surge, and long‑term shoreline change.

Related Terms

• • Climate Change

• • Climate Models

• • Frontline Communities

• • Sea -Level Rise

• • Extreme Weather

See Also

• • NOAA Climate.gov – Climate Data & Teaching Resources

• • NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI)

• • NOAA Ocean Today – Educational Videos

• • U.S. Climate Resilience Toolkit (NOAA‑led)