NOAA Ocean Podcast

Marine debris is a large and global problem. Plastics, metals, rubber, fishing gear, and other lost and discarded items enter our ocean, Great Lakes, waterways, and coastal areas every day. This challenging problem can cause negative impacts to wildlife, the environment, and the economy. In this episode, we chat with our expert, Sophie Maginnes, communication specialist with NOAA’s Marine Debris Program.

NOAA Ocean Podcast: Episode 78 - Marine Debris - Talking Trash

Fifteen years ago, NOAA played a critical role in the initial response, assessment, and development of a restoration plan following the Deepwater Horizon oil spill — the largest offshore oil spill in U.S. history. In this episode, we’re joined by experts Doug Helton and Lisa DiPinto from the National Ocean Service’s Office of Response and Restoration to discuss the earliest moments of the response, and the progress made over the past 15 years to advance oil spill science and technologies.

NOAA Ocean Podcast: Episode 80 - Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill: 15 Years of Advancing Science

Attention beachgoers! Don’t let ocean and shoreline hazards keep you from enjoying your time at the beach this summer; instead, boost your “Blue IQ” through this episode. Listen to ocean and coastal safety expert Bruckner Chase discuss common beach hazards and best practices to keep you and your loved ones safe in the surf.
NOAA Ocean Podcast: Episode 81 - Boost Your Blue IQ

Rising waters can spell trouble for coastal areas. The impacts of high tide flooding can range from longer commute times to business closures and construction delays. NOAA plays a vital role in helping communities prepare for and respond to flooding threats. This episode features a panel of experts from NOAA’s Center for Operational Oceanographic Products and Services. We’re joined by oceanographers Analise Keeney and Karen Kavanaugh and chief scientist Greg Dusek, Ph.D.


NOAA Ocean Podcast: Episode 77 -High Tide Flooding

Since 2007, NOAA’s National Ocean Service has been working to update the National Spatial Reference System. This huge project will modernize the system for measuring the horizontal positions and vertical elevations of the United States and its territories. During the course of this work, NOAA scientists realized that the heights of Colorado’s famous “Fourteeners” — or mountains with peak elevations of at least 14,000 feet — had been overestimated. In this episode, we learn why this occurred, how this impacts the status of these mountains, and what benefits this project will have for the nation. Our featured expert is Derek van Westrum, physicist with NOAA’s National Geodetic Survey.

NOAA Ocean Podcast: Episode 79 -Moving Mountains