What's New on the NOS Website - July 2023

• New podcast! Digging into the science of sand: https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/podcast/july23/nop67-sand.html
• New ocean fact! Protecting coastal communities doesn’t have to mean concrete barriers. Explore nature-based solutions: https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/nature-based.html
• In this new video message, NOS Assistant Administrator Nicole LeBoeuf shares how over the next year, new high-resolution coastal land cover data will be available for the entire coastal zone! Learn more at: https://coast.noaa.gov/digitalcoast/data/ccaphighres.html
• Can you tell if these two marshes are thriving or deteriorating? One seems to be doing well but scientists found a different story after a closer look: https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/ecosystems/estuaries/happy-marsh.html
• Barrier reefs and atolls are some of the most beautiful and biologically diverse habitats in the ocean -  and also some of the oldest. They grow so slowly it can take up to 10,000 years for a coral reef to form from a group of larvae: https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/education/tutorial_corals/coral04_reefs.html
• The human history of this country is interwoven with its ecological history, and this connectedness is a large part of what the National Estuarine Research Reserve System works so hard to safeguard: https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/ecosystems/estuaries/estuaries-cultural-landscape.html
• Kids can learn about habitats near and far with our Coral Reef, Hawaii, and , Guam activity books - or just have fun scribbling in fish like these scribbled rabbitfish:  https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/kids/guam-activity-book.pdf
• Did you know that sharks are pelagic fish? Learn what they have in common with anchovies and tuna: https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/pelagic.html
• Before you head to the beach, learn how to stay safe while you have fun - did you know that we have algal bloom and rip current forecasts? https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/recreation/beach-safety/
• One of the most fascinating habitats to discover during is the intertidal zone. Do you recognize these common inhabitants? https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/intertidal-zone.html
• #ConservationCultura means we work to protect ecological resources and a diverse array of human history from indigenous to immigrant cultures in our research reserves: https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/ecosystems/estuaries/estuaries-cultural-landscape.html
• If you're hitting the road and looking for travel activities for kids, visit our education activities page. You can print out regional activity books so they can learn about the creatures and habitats of your destination! https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/education/regional-activity-books.html
• The picturesque hillsides and vibrant blue waters of NE Puerto Rico had a problem: soil erosion and nonpoint source pollution were impacting the coral reefs and other habitats. The story of the successful revitalization of Playa Tamarindo: https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/news/feb16/reef-to-ridge-conservation.html
• Extremely high summer temperatures are sparking conversations about climate vs. weather. Learn the difference with our temperature sensor activity, and follow you local NOAA weather office for heat safety information: https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/education/discoverclimate/noaa_acitivity4_climate-weather-whats-thedifference.pdf
• Teachers can take their high school students on tours of 10-15 different habitats with the virtual dives in our marine ecosystem modeling lesson: https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/education/marine-ecosystem-modeling-vr/
• How do mariners stay out of a hurricane's path? It's as easy as 1-2-3: https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/mariner123.html
• Not the beach view any of us were hoping to see. Cigarette butts are the most common type of litter found in the ocean. Because the filters are made of plastic, they break down into thousands of tiny pieces, but don’t degrade. https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/most-common-ocean-litter.html
• Jellyfish aren’t the only ocean inhabitants to avoid at the beach. Read our ocean fact, “Five Sea Creatures to Avoid at the Shore,” to help ensure that your beach visit is a safe one: https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/hazards/beach-dangers/sea-creatures-to-avoid.html
• Ever heard of a Totten Beacon?  They're important historical structures that laid the groundwork for today's maritime navigation: https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/totten-beacons.html

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