National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration
United States Department of Commerce

In the News

Soundscape of the deep ocean

May 10, 2017

The Economist Radio: A new form of bioengineering ditches the cell and could speed up innovation. Five giant tech firms are hoarding most of the world's data. Is it time to break up the oligopoly? Also, an ambient soundscape from the deepest known part of the ocean (STARTS AT 13:10)

Link: Soundscape of the deep ocean

The Bloop: An Underwater Mystery That Took Nearly 20 Years to Solve

April 25, 2017

In 1997, while searching for underwater volcanoes off the coast of South America, scientists recorded something they couldn't explain: a strange, exceptionally loud noise. They called it "the bloop." The bloop was one of the loudest underwater sounds ever recorded: hydrophones (underwater microphones) more than three thousand miles apart all captured the same noise. 

Link: The Bloop: An Underwater Mystery That Took Nearly 20 Years to Solve

Listening to Icebergs’ Loud and Mournful Breakup Songs

April 05, 2017

In March 2000, the iceberg B-15 broke off from the Ross Ice Shelf in Antarctica. It was the largest iceberg ever documented, with a surface area of more than 4,200 square miles—more than twice the size of the state of Delaware. After it started breaking up, the largest of its pieces, B-15a, drifted along the coast of Antarctica, lingered on a shallow seamount, and collided with an ice tongue, before running aground and breaking again.

Link: Listening to Icebergs’ Loud and Mournful Breakup Songs

Underwater Volcano Footage Offers Rare Glimpse Of Submarine Eruption

December 20, 2016

The eruption of land-based volcanoes may be frequent. However, the same with a submarine volcano looks unique. More so about Axial Seamount — the active undersea volcano in the Northeast Pacific. In the latest eruption in April 2015, it triggered an average 200,000 earthquakes 300 miles off the coast of Oregon.

 

Link: Underwater Volcano Footage Offers Rare Glimpse Of Submarine Eruption

Mesmerizing Deep Ocean ‘Symphony’ Finally Identified

December 20, 2016

Scientists have been perplexed for years by a hypnotic, symphonic sound emanating from the deepest trench of the world’s oceans. Now they believe they have finally identified its source: elusive minke whales — but a type never before heard.

Link: Mesmerizing Deep Ocean ‘Symphony’ Finally Identified

Pages