NOAA Ocean and Atmospheric Research

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) operates an extensive portfolio of ocean and atmospheric research programs codified in Title 33 of the U.S. Code. These programs span ocean observation systems, atmospheric science, marine debris cleanup, ocean acidification monitoring, hydrographic charting, and fleet modernization — together forming the scientific backbone of U.S. ocean policy.

Current Law (2026)

Legal Authority

• 33 U.S.C. § 891–891c — NOAA Fleet Replacement and Modernization (authorizes a 15-year program to replace and modernize NOAA's research and survey vessel fleet; requires fleet modernization plans; sets vessel design standards)
• 33 U.S.C. § 892–892d — Hydrographic Services (directs NOAA to acquire and disseminate hydrographic data; promulgate charting standards; maintain a Hydrographic Services Review Panel; ensure quality assurance for nautical charts and water level data)
• 33 U.S.C. § 893 — Ocean and atmospheric research and development program (establishes a coordinated research program with NSF and NASA focusing on advanced technologies, analytical methods, and information systems for ocean and atmospheric science)
• 33 U.S.C. § 893a — NOAA ocean and atmospheric science education programs (directs NOAA to conduct formal and informal education at all levels to enhance public understanding of ocean and atmospheric science, with emphasis on underrepresented groups)
• 33 U.S.C. § 893b — NOAA's contribution to innovation (requires NOAA to participate in interagency efforts to promote innovation and economic competitiveness through research and STEM education)
• 33 U.S.C. § 1952 — NOAA Marine Debris Program (establishes within NOAA a program to identify, assess, prevent, reduce, and remove marine debris; address adverse impacts on the economy, marine environment, and navigation safety)
• 33 U.S.C. § 1953 — Coast Guard marine debris program (establishes a complementary Coast Guard program for marine debris reporting and response)
• 33 U.S.C. § 1954 — Coordination (requires interagency coordination on marine debris issues)
• 33 U.S.C. § 3603 — Integrated Coastal and Ocean Observing System (establishes a national ocean observation system to support weather forecasting, climate monitoring, fisheries management, and coastal hazard response)
• 33 U.S.C. § 3705 — NOAA ocean acidification activities (establishes an ocean acidification program for research, monitoring, and coordination)
• 33 U.S.C. § 3706–3707 — NSF and NASA ocean acidification activities (directs companion programs at the National Science Foundation and NASA)
• 33 U.S.C. § 4102–4103 — Unmanned maritime systems (directs NOAA to assess and acquire unmanned maritime systems to support its missions)

How It Works

NOAA's ocean and atmospheric research programs form an interconnected system. The research vessel fleet conducts at-sea observations; hydrographic services produce the nautical charts that mariners depend on; the ocean observing system collects real-time data from sensors throughout U.S. coastal and ocean waters; and specialized programs address emerging issues like marine debris and ocean acidification.

Fleet and Vessels: NOAA operates one of the largest civilian research fleets in the world. The fleet modernization program authorizes a 15-year cycle to replace aging vessels, with specific design standards to ensure new ships meet modern research needs. The law also authorizes NOAA to assess and acquire unmanned maritime systems — underwater drones, autonomous surface vessels, and other robotic platforms — that can extend observing capacity beyond what crewed vessels alone can achieve.

Hydrographic Services: NOAA is the nation's nautical chart-maker. The hydrographic services provisions require NOAA to collect and disseminate data on water depths, coastline positions, currents, and tides — information critical for navigation safety, coastal construction, and emergency response. A Hydrographic Services Review Panel provides external oversight and technical guidance.

Ocean Observing System: The National Integrated Coastal and Ocean Observation System is a network of sensors, buoys, satellites, and monitoring stations that provides real-time data on ocean conditions — temperature, salinity, currents, wave heights, water levels, and more. This data feeds into weather forecasting, tsunami warnings, fisheries management, and climate models. The system integrates federal assets with contributions from state, academic, and private-sector partners.

Marine Debris Program: This program tackles the growing problem of ocean garbage — from plastic pollution to abandoned fishing gear to tsunami debris. NOAA identifies debris sources, assesses impacts, coordinates cleanup efforts, and develops prevention strategies. The Coast Guard operates a complementary reporting and response program, and interagency coordination provisions ensure coherent federal action.

Ocean Acidification: As the oceans absorb excess atmospheric CO₂, seawater chemistry changes in ways that threaten shellfish, coral reefs, and marine ecosystems. The ocean acidification program coordinates research across NOAA, NSF, and NASA to monitor acidification trends, understand biological impacts, and develop adaptation strategies.

Education and Innovation: NOAA is directed to conduct education programs at all levels — from K-12 through graduate school — to enhance public understanding of ocean and atmospheric science. The law specifically emphasizes outreach to underrepresented groups. NOAA must also participate in interagency innovation and STEM promotion efforts, connecting its scientific mission to broader economic competitiveness goals.

How It Affects You

State Variations

NOAA ocean programs are exclusively federal, but they interact with state systems in several ways:

Implementing Regulations

• 15 CFR Part 911 — NOAA Space-Based Data Collection Systems (DCS) — policies and procedures governing authorized use of NOAA's GOES and Argos satellite data collection networks by U.S. citizens and entities. Key provisions:

  • § 911.2 — Applies to all U.S. citizens and U.S.-organized entities operating data collection platforms on GOES (geostationary) or Argos (polar-orbiting) systems; includes both existing users and new applicants
  • § 911.4 — Use authorized only when no commercial space-based alternative meets the user's requirements (assessed on satellite coverage, accuracy, data throughput, power consumption, service continuity, cost); primarily restricted to environmental data collection by government and non-profit users; non-environmental use requires explicit government interest in the data
  • § 911.5 — All users must execute a System Use Agreement with NOAA's Director of Satellite Data Processing; agreement specifies authorized uses, equipment standards, reporting frequencies, data formats, and user-borne costs; NOAA retains sole discretion on approvals
  • § 911.6 — All DCS users must grant NOAA and other U.S. agencies full, open, and timely access to all environmental data collected — including potential international distribution under the World Meteorological Organization; NOAA bears no liability for system downtime or unavailability

  GOES DCS and the Argos system on POES satellites support hundreds of U.S. and international environmental monitoring applications — ocean buoys, river gauges, seismic stations, and weather monitoring platforms. These regulations are primarily relevant to researchers, federal agencies, and state environmental agencies operating remote sensing platforms. NOAA explicitly conditions DCS access on demonstrated unavailability of commercial alternatives, reflecting an agency policy of not crowding out private satellite data markets.

• 15 CFR Part 922 — National Marine Sanctuary Program (sanctuary designation, management, permits)

• 15 CFR Part 950 — National Oceanographic Data Center (data and services)

• 15 CFR Part 995 — NOAA certification of NOAA hydrographic products and services

• 15 CFR Part 996 — Quality Assurance and Certification of Non-Federal Hydrographic Products: NOAA's program for certifying non-federal hydrographic products — any publicly or commercially available product produced by a private company or non-federal entity that includes or displays hydrographic data (nautical charts, navigation apps, tide prediction software, electronic chart systems). Implements 33 U.S.C. § 892b (hydrographic services improvement act), which directed NOAA to develop a quality assurance program equally available to all applicants. Key provisions:

  • § 996.1 — Purpose: NOAA's QA program establishes standards and compliance tests for non-federal hydrographic products; a product that passes compliance testing may receive NOAA certification — a formal determination that it meets NOAA-adopted standards; certification signals to mariners and navigation system users that the product meets verified accuracy requirements
  • § 996.2 — Definitions: a hydrographic product is any publicly or commercially available product produced by a non-federal entity that includes or displays hydrographic data (depth soundings, coastline positions, tidal data, current information); a hydrographic product class is a group of products with similar traits, purposes, or users; certification applies to a specific product or class meeting a specific adopted standard
  • § 996.10 — Submission for standards development: any non-federal entity may submit a hydrographic product to NOAA for development of certification standards; the submission must identify the product, the sponsor, representatives of affected communities who will participate in standard writing, and proposed standards bodies; NOAA uses recognized existing standards organizations (e.g., IHO S-57 or S-100 standards) where practicable, rather than writing proprietary NOAA-only standards
  • § 996.11–996.12 — Standards and compliance test development: NOAA works jointly with the sponsor, affected stakeholders, and selected standards bodies to write and adopt standards; separately, compliance tests are developed by independent testing bodies; the two-track development (standards + tests) ensures that the test accurately measures compliance with the standard before certification is offered
  • § 996.13 — Decision to offer certification: certification is at NOAA's option — NOAA evaluates whether adopted standards and tests are suitable, whether qualified testing entities are available, and whether resources exist to administer the program; NOAA publishes its certification decisions in the Federal Register; interested parties may request reconsideration within 30 days
  • § 996.20–996.22 — Certification process: an applicant submits the hydrographic product to a qualified independent compliance testing body; the testing body determines compliance or non-compliance with the NOAA-adopted standard; items failing tests may be modified and retested; NOAA makes a certification determination within 60 days of receiving test results, based on test outcomes, public safety implications, administrative requirements, and whether certification could cause embarrassment to the agency; certified products are publicly announced in the Federal Register
  • § 996.23 — Audit and decertification: NOAA may audit certified products at any time, including unannounced audits; decertification grounds include: the product no longer meets the standard; the product has been substantively changed from what was tested; public claims about the product are untrue or misleading; or the NOAA emblem was improperly displayed; decertification follows a notice-and-response process
  • § 996.30 — NOAA emblem: NOAA-certified products may display the NOAA emblem only with separate written permission from NOAA; use of the emblem must satisfy an agency interest and must not risk embarrassment to NOAA or the Department; when a certified product includes additional non-certified data, the display must clearly distinguish what is and is not NOAA-certified

  The NOAA hydrographic products QA program is relevant primarily to commercial navigation software and chart service companies whose products compete with NOAA's own free chart offerings. NOAA certification provides a quality signal for professional mariners evaluating whether to rely on third-party electronic chart systems for navigation safety — particularly for inland waterways and coastal passages where NOAA's own chart products may not cover the full range of detail needed for high-resolution navigation applications. No recent FR citations — the program framework has been stable since its original promulgation.

• 15 CFR Part 997 — Regional Coastal Observing System (RCOS): implements the Integrated Coastal and Ocean Observation System Act of 2009 (ICOOS Act, 33 U.S.C. §§ 3601–3609), which created the U.S. Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS) — a nationwide network of ocean and coastal sensors, data systems, and modeling platforms that provides real-time and forecasted information on ocean conditions to support maritime safety, fisheries management, and coastal hazard response. Part 997 governs the certification of non-federal Regional Coastal Observing Systems (RCOSs) — the 11 regional associations (such as the Gulf of Mexico Coastal Ocean Observing System and the Southeast Coastal Ocean Observing Regional Association) that operate the local observing networks feeding into the national IOOS:

  • § 997.10 — Eligibility: any non-federal entity may apply for certification as an RCOS, including universities, non-profit consortia, state agencies, and regional planning bodies; certification grants the entity official status as a participating component of the national IOOS, enabling it to receive federal funding and data integration support
  • § 997.11 — Application: applicants submit a package documenting their observing infrastructure (buoys, sensors, monitoring stations), data management capabilities, stakeholder engagement processes, quality assurance systems, and coordination with NOAA and other federal agencies; the 90-day NOAA review focuses on whether the RCOS meets the technical and governance standards established by the Interoperability and Integration Operations Council (IOOC)
  • § 997.14 — Certification duration: certification is valid for 5 years with renewal; NOAA may specify a shorter term if the RCOS needs time to address specific deficiencies; expired certifications must be renewed before the RCOS can represent itself as NOAA-certified or access associated federal resources
  • § 997.15 — Audit and decertification: NOAA may audit any certified RCOS to verify continuing compliance with IOOC criteria; audits may be triggered by performance concerns, data quality issues, or random selection; decertification follows a notice-and-response process allowing the RCOS to correct identified deficiencies before losing certified status

  The RCOS certification system transforms the IOOS from a federal program into a public-private network: federal labs and agencies provide the offshore and deep-water monitoring infrastructure, while certified RCOSs provide the coastal and nearshore coverage that matters most for local fisheries, storm surge prediction, and port operations. IOOS data is used in NOAA's Coastal Risk Reduction models, NWS storm surge forecasts, and the National Glider Network that monitors Gulf Stream circulation and ocean heat content relevant to hurricane intensification.

• 15 CFR Part 998 — NOAA National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service

• 50 CFR Parts 600–697 — NOAA Fisheries (Magnuson-Stevens Act implementation, fishery management plans, catch limits, essential fish habitat)

Pending Legislation

• S 3854 — Direct DOE and NOAA to use AI/supercomputing for advanced weather models. Status: Introduced.
• S 3910 — NOAA-led marine carbon dioxide removal research with tribal consent. Status: Introduced.
• HR 6893 — Reauthorize NOAA Chesapeake Bay Office for science, monitoring, restoration. Status: In committee.
• S 3923 — Modernize NOAA weather systems with satellites, AI, commercial data. Status: Introduced.
• HR 7896 — NOAA Global Ocean Monitoring and Observing Research Act. Status: Introduced.
• HR 7656 — NOAA program for marine CDR research and voluntary carbon market standards. Status: Introduced.

Recent Developments

• Trump DOGE and Commerce Department cuts threatening NOAA research programs: The Trump administration's DOGE initiative has targeted NOAA for significant budget and staffing reductions. NOAA employs approximately 12,000 scientists, engineers, and support staff; DOGE reviews have identified NOAA's climate research programs — particularly the Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR) — as candidates for reduction or elimination. NOAA's weather prediction infrastructure (National Weather Service), its fisheries stock assessments (NMFS), and its satellite programs have strong congressional defenders; pure ocean and climate research programs are more vulnerable. Researchers at NOAA labs and cooperative institutes with universities have faced hiring freezes and grant uncertainty.
• Ocean acidification — Pacific shellfish industry impacts becoming commercially critical: Ocean acidification (the lowering of ocean pH as CO2 is absorbed from the atmosphere) has moved from a research concern to an active commercial crisis for Pacific Coast shellfish operations. Oyster hatcheries in Oregon and Washington have documented larvae mortality events attributable to acidified upwelling water; some operations have relocated to more pH-stable offshore environments or shut down. NOAA's Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory (PMEL) — which leads federal ocean acidification monitoring — has documented pH declines exceeding models' projections in some areas. The Pacific shellfish industry ($200M+ annual economic value) and fishing communities in Oregon and Washington are the most directly exposed commercial interests.
• NOAA research vessel fleet modernization — new ships entering service: NOAA's aging research fleet — some vessels are 40+ years old — has been a persistent infrastructure deficit. The NOAA Ship Discoverer returned to service in 2023 after a $60M renovation; additional new vessel construction is funded through NOAA's shipbuilding program. Autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) and unmanned surface vehicles (USVs) are increasingly supplementing crewed vessel operations — NOAA has integrated Saildrone USVs into hurricane intensity measurement and fisheries stock surveys, demonstrating a cost-effective model for extending ocean observing coverage without expensive crewed ships.
• NOAA fisheries stock assessments under pressure — data gaps in rapidly changing ocean: NMFS's fisheries stock assessments — the scientific basis for federal catch limits set by regional fishery management councils — are facing growing uncertainty as fish populations shift their ranges in response to ocean temperature changes. Historically accurate assessment models calibrated on historical distribution data are producing larger error bounds as species move north or to deeper water outside traditional survey areas. For commercially important species like Pacific salmon, Atlantic cod, and Gulf of Mexico red snapper, these assessment uncertainties directly affect catch limits and the economic viability of fishing communities. NOAA is investing in expanded survey coverage and Bayesian modeling approaches to improve assessment accuracy under changing conditions.