Weather forecasting begins with observations. For several years NOAA has worked to fill gaps in observations by tapping into such varied sources as airlines, other private companies, universities, state highway and agriculture departments, and private citizens.

The PORTS® program, managed by NOAA's National Ocean Service, provides mariners with direct access to real-time water level, current and wind speed/direction data at locations specifically requested by mariners.

Around the world...around the clock...NOAA proudly stands watch.  As an integral part of worldwide search and rescue, NOAA operates the Search And Rescue Satellite Aided Tracking (SARSAT) system to detect and locate mariners, aviators, and recreational enthusiasts in distress almost anywhere in the world at anytime and in almost any condition.

NOAA's National Geodetic Survey (NGS) is responsible for the development and maintenance of the National Spatial Reference System (NSRS) that is used for positioning, navigation, mapping and charting.

Researchers at NOAA’s Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory (PMEL) in Seattle, Washington, developed the first DART® system in 1995, but it wasn’t until the Indian Ocean tsunami disaster in December 2004 that the system was implemented throughout the waters of the Pacific and Indian Oceans.

Known as the "Voice of NOAA's National Weather Service," NOAA Weather Radio All Hazards (NWR) is a public service that provides continuous weather information directly from the nearest National Weather Service forecast office.

NOAA has been at the forefront of climate observation, measurement, and modeling since the 1950s.   Many of the scientific discoveries made along the way, while possibly not familiar to the average citizen, are now widely used to describe our knowledge of Earth’s climate system.

The innovative process developed by scientists at NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service, and patented in 1992, improved the method for purifying and enriching omega-3s from fish oils.

In 1990, NOAA scientists from the National Marine Fisheries Service patented a technique for using a water extract of potato to treat fish meat used in surimi to improve the overall firmness of the texture in the final product

This radar allows for real-time warnings to air traffic controllers and pilots and makes flying safer for everyone.

In 1983, scientists from NOAA’s Northwest Fisheries Science Center began ground-breaking cooperative work with the Bonneville Power Administration of the U.S. Department of Energy to determine the feasibility of tracking salmon through passive integrated transponders or PIT tags, embedded under the skin of the fish.