Boost Your Blue IQ

NOAA’s National Ocean Service started as a small scientific agency with one mission, to chart our new nation’s coasts and coastal waters so the many ships that traversed the Atlantic and Caribbean could arrive safely. As the years passed, new ocean- and coast-related missions were added to the agency. In this episode, discover the origins of the National Ocean Service, including how two U.S. founding fathers, president Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin, played a part in this ocean history lesson. NOAA Ocean Podcast: Episode 86 - The Origins of NOAA’s National Ocean Service

In this episode, we travel to Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary. Boasting rugged coastlines and encompassing over 3,000 square miles, this special place is home to a rich abundance of marine mammals, seabirds, fish, and invertebrate communities. We explore this area’s origins, maritime culture, and historical legacy, as well as ways you can dive into all our sanctuaries. Our featured expert is Chris Butler-Minor, a community engagement specialist with NOAA’s Office of National Marine Sanctuaries. NOAA Ocean Podcast: Episode 76 -Sanctuary Spotlight: Olympic Coast

Not all reefs in the ocean are naturally occurring. Artificial reefs are human-made structures that come in a variety of shapes and sizes. In this episode, we learn about what they are, the benefits they provide, and how the first study was conducted to calculate how much of the seafloor is covered by these reefs. Episode permanent link, transcript, and show notes

Hurricanes are powerful storms that can threaten life and property. We revisit an episode with our podcast hosts as they discuss the roles of the National Ocean Service in hurricane preparedness, response, and recovery and how you can prepare for this year’s hurricane season. Episode permanent link, transcript, and show notes

With origins tracing back more than 200 years, NOAA’s National Geodetic Survey is in the business of "knowing where things are." In this episode, we go behind the scenes with NGS Director Juliana Blackwell to get an insider perspective on NGS’s history and mission. She also shares her personal experience as the office’s first female director. Episode permanent link, transcript, and show notes

In this episode, we explore how scientists across the National Estuarine Research Reserve System conducted the first-ever North American wildlife inventory of these habitats. We chat with Dr. Kenny Raposa, research coordinator at Rhode Island’s Narragansett Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve and lead scientist for the study. Episode permanent link, transcript, and show notes

When temperatures rise, coral bleaching can occur. In this episode, we explore what happens during bleaching events, how corals are affected, and how we can help protect these important ecosystems. We’re joined by coral expert Dana Wusinich-Mendez, Atlantic and Caribbean team lead, and Florida management liaison for NOAA's Coral Reef Conservation Program. Episode permanent link, transcript, and show notes

In this episode, we revisit a previous podcast on these storm-fueled waves and discuss how they differ from tsunamis. We're joined by Dr. Gregory Dusek, senior scientist with NOAA's National Ocean Service, to discuss his study on meteotsunamis.

When it comes to oil spills and their impacts on marine environments, water and oil don’t mix. In this episode, we chat with an oil spill response expert and share some weird facts about oil and oil contamination. Episode permanent link, transcript, and show notes

In this episode, we're heading to the Florida Keys, the only place in the continental United States with shallow water coral reefs. But these corals are not the only thing that make the Keys special. We're joined by Brenda Altmeier, maritime heritage coordinator for Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary to tell us the story of the Florida Keys through maritime history to give you just a taste of why this place is unlike anywhere else in the nation. Episode permanent link, transcript, and show notes