Archive for December, 2008

Santa visits NGS training site for orientation

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The National Geodetic Survey (NGS) recently hosted a special guest at their Corbin Training Center in Richmond, Virginia. NGS, part of the Ocean Service, manages the National Spatial Reference System....

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Creating tomorrow’s coastal leaders today

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Projects proposed by six state coastal zone management agencies have been selected for the 2009 Coastal Management Fellowship program. This two-year opportunity offers a competitive salary, medical benefits, and travel and relocation expense reimbursement. Student applications for the fellowship are due January 26, 2009....

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Lost lobster traps have big impact in Florida Keys

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In a recent study, NOS scientists found that parts and pieces of lobster traps are the most common form of marine debris in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. The tens of thousands of traps lost each year continue to trap, injure, or kill sea life; damage sensitive habitats; and are a hazard to navigation....

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NOS team wins top award with method to map underwater unexploded ordnance

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A team of NOS researchers recently won the Department of Commerce Gold Medal for developing techniques to locate and map underwater unexploded ordnance in shallow water using high-tech sensors....

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Protecting our living coasts

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The Cooperative Institute for Coastal and Estuarine Environmental Technology (CICEET), a partnership between the National Ocean Service and the University of New Hampshire, recently brought land-use planning researchers and outreach specialists together as part of the Living Coasts Program...

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Harmful algal bloom toxins found in dolphin diets

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A new study by NOS researchers finds that harmful algal bloom (HAB) toxins are transferred to dolphins through the fish they eat. The findings point out the need for coastal managers to consider long-term, repeated dietary exposure to harmful algal toxins in their assessments of marine mammal health risks....

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What is the biggest source of ocean pollution?

This item was filled under Economy, Facts, Health
Eighty percent of pollution to the marine environment comes from the land. One of the biggest sources is called nonpoint source pollution, which occurs as a result of runoff....

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How far does light travel in the ocean?

This item was filled under Basics, Facts, Ocean Observations
Sunlight entering the water may travel about 1,000 meters (3,280 feet) into the ocean under the right conditions, but there is rarely any significant light beyond 200 meters (656 feet)....

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What percentage of the American population lives near the coast?

This item was filled under Economy, Facts, Places
Coastal areas are home to a wealth of natural and economic resources and are the most developed areas in the nation. The narrow fringe comprising 17 percent of the contiguous U.S. land area is home to more than half of the nation's population....

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New study leads to better understanding of ocean acidification

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A new study finds significant ocean acidification in the Caribbean, and may lead to a better understanding of how coral reefs will adapt to this harmful process. A quarter of the carbon dioxide that humans place in the atmosphere each year ends up being dissolved into the ocean....

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