El Nino is a disruption of the ocean-atmosphere system in the tropical Pacific with important climatic consequences around the globe. This NOAA theme page features links to widely distributed information. Includes data, graphics, forecasts, historical perspectives, and in-depth analysis. It is intended to be useful to scientists, administrators, students and the general public. Links include sites ... Full description.

The National Marine Sanctuary Program identifies, designates and manages areas of the marine environment of special national significance due to their conservation, recreational, ecological, historical, research, educational, or aesthetic qualities. Access information and pictures of marine sanctuaries all over the U.S. and its territories. Discover ways to get involved with the sanctuary program, ... Full description.

A web portal to real-time, GIS-based coastal observations and NOAA forecasts. Select location and specify: meteorology, oceanography, river, water quality or other observations; tidal predictions, weather or ocean condition forecasts. You can choose in situ or remote sensing data collection systems, overlap different types of observations and forecast information on a single map, compare several data ... Full description.

Project Oceanica's goal is to integrate education with oceanographic research and exploration, and to develop educational resources and programs available to college and high school students, as well as to K-12 educators. Site is a comprehensive collection of Project Oceanica programs and resources. Features expedition and research information, photo and video galleries, field guides, shark and billfishes ... Full description.

Links to a variety of current oceanographic databases. Provides access to in situ and remotely sensed data, models, and a photo library from all over the world. Data available includes temperature, salinity, biological, nutrients, oxygen, and many more. View sea surface temperature animations, sea level changes, and plankton profiles for anywhere in the world. Data, graphs, and more are available ... Full description.

Excellent images of ocean topography, continental margins, crustal age, Great Lakes bathymetry, plus images of available posters and slide sets. Downloadable animations also available. Links to other NOAA resources. Full description.

Portal to NOAA programs on coral reef research, management, protection. Online booklet describes corals, importance of reefs as habitat, value to humans, natural and human impacts. Site offers outreach and online educational materials, including lesson plans and list of things you can do. Search coral reef data and publications, find funding opportunities, review state of U.S. reefs, local and national ... Full description.

Examine the relationships between volcanic events and the chemistry and biology of hydrothermal vents on the undersea volcano Axial: daily expedition logs, curriculum materials that seek to solve an underwater mystery, photographs and fly-through video. Site also features highly-interactive dives to the seafloor (requires free Shockwave plugin). Full description.

Links to real-time and historical oceanographic and weather data collected throughout the Gulf of Maine. Data includes: surface current speed and direction; wave direction height and period; ocean temperature; chlorophyll levels; winds; contaminants monitoring; and more. On-line teaching unit applies data to predict a phytoplankton bloom. Data presented using creative graphics and tables, background ... Full description.

Site defines El Nino/Southern Oscillation and La Nina, provides a glossary, and presents real-time data of sea surface temperatures, winds and anomalies over time. Also describes research programs and sensing systems like sea level stations, ocean buoys and satellites. Extensive FAQs explain the phenomenon's frequency and impacts, describe measurement systems and forecasting. Links to: teacher resources, ... Full description.