National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration
United States Department of Commerce

Mission

Record and measure geophysical, biological, meteorological, cryogenic and anthropogenic sound sources throughout the global ocean using innovative acoustic technologies and sensor platforms to characterize ocean soundscapes that inform stakeholders and the public on the health of marine ecosystems.

What's New

Underwater view of ship and two dolphins
July 31, 2023

To collect consistent passive acoustic data simultaneously across all major regions of the US, NOAA and the National Park Service scientists have teamed up to create the Ocean Noise Reference Station Network (NRS).

Through vivid imagery and sound clips, NOAA's story map "Listening to the Sea" explores the NRS and its use of passive acoustic instruments to record sound in the ocean.

In the News

(Inside Science) -- As the sun rises over the island of American Samoa, a chorus of animal voices drifts upward. They're not the calls... more

The explosions, identified during the 2018 eruption phase, offer a clear acoustic signal that researchers could use to measure ocean... more