NOAA OCEAN SERVICE CREATES NEW USER-FRIENDLY WEB SITE

April 24, 2003 — Researchers, students and mariners now have a new and easier way to access information on coastal and ocean issues. The NOAA Ocean Service (NOAA Oceans and Coasts) launched its new Web site offering users unprecedented access to NOAA Oceans and Coasts’ richly diverse resources. The user-friendly site contains updated and archived information on topics such as coral reefs and coastal ecosystem science.

The new Web site provides in-depth information about NOAA Oceans and Coasts’ programs and services. Now organized thematically with simple navigation in mind, the Web site was developed by NOAA Oceans and Coasts’ Communications and Education Division in collaboration with all of NOAA Oceans and Coasts’ ten program and staff offices.

The Web site includes an expanded Education section that features in-depth online tutorials for teachers and students on ocean-related subjects, plus educational road maps to NOAA resources and dynamic multimedia illustrations.

The Web site also includes other new expansive sections of information including:

• The “Topics” section, offering brief descriptions of oceans, coasts, and charting and navigation services provided by NOAA Oceans and Coasts. Information under the “Topics” section includes marine protected areas, coral reef conservation, natural resource restoration, coastal ecosystem science, marine navigation, and tides and currents.
• An Outreach section that provides users with access to numerous online and offline NOAA Oceans and Coasts outreach materials;
• A Publications section that features a searchable database of complete bibliographic information of more than 400 NOAA Oceans and Coasts publications, many of which are available online;
• A MapFinder section in which NOAA Oceans and Coasts’ extensive collection of bathymetric maps, charts and aerial photographs are available in a searchable database;
• An expanded News section that includes a quarterly multimedia presentation of NOAA Oceans and Coasts activities, weekly news capsules featuring up-to-date information, and a regular Feature Story that profiles the innovations and capacities within the agency; and
• A comprehensive annotated list of NOAA Oceans and Coasts Web sites to ensure users have immediate access to the entire suite of NOAA Oceans and Coasts’ resources.

The NOAA Ocean Service (NOAA Oceans and Coasts) is dedicated to exploring, understanding, conserving and restoring the nation’s coasts and oceans. NOAA Oceans and Coasts balances environmental protection with economic prosperity in fulfilling its mission of promoting safe navigation, supporting coastal communities, sustaining coastal habitats, and mitigating coastal hazards.

NOAA is dedicated to enhancing economic security and national safety through the prediction and research of weather and climate-related events and providing environmental stewardship of the nation’s coastal and marine resources. NOAA is part of the U.S. Department of Commerce.

Relevant Web Sites
NOAA Ocean Service

Media Contact:
Glenda Tyson, NOAA Ocean Service, (301) 713-3066