NOAA and partners recently made an exciting discovery: The wreck of a 207-year-old whaling ship, called Industry, found on the bottom of the Gulf of Mexico. The remains of the 64-foot long, two-masted wooden brig opens a window into a little known chapter of American history when descendants of African enslaved people and Native Americans served as essential crew in one of the nation’s oldest industries.

Research by scientists at NOAA’s Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory shows that changes in temperatures in the equatorial Pacific Ocean, called El Niño-Southern Oscillation, can help predict changes in the Florida Current that occur three months later. Scientists also conclude that ENSO’s influence on the Florida Current affects sea level on the eastern side of the Florida Straits.

Research from NOAA's Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory has found that fine particulate pollution over the U.S. Pacific Northwest could double to triple during late summer to fall by the end of the 21st century under intermediate- and low-mitigation scenarios. The historic fires and resulting pollution of 2017–2020 could occur every 3 to 5 years under 21st century climate change, posing challenges for regional air quality management and threatening public health.

Every year, several billion metric tonnes of mineral dust are lofted into the atmosphere from the world’s arid regions, making dust one of the most abundant types of aerosol particles in the atmosphere. Now, scientists are learning that tiny bits of dust from the hottest and driest parts of the Earth are a surprisingly large driver in forming the delicate, wispy ice clouds known as cirrus in the cold, high-altitudes of the atmosphere.

In March, scientists from NOAA's National Severe Storms Laboratory set out on the PERiLS (Propagation, Evolution, and Rotation in Linear Storms) campaign in the Southeastern U.S. The campaign will deploy dozens of instruments to measure the atmosphere near and inside storms. Researchers will focus on quasi-linear convective systems — commonly known as squall-lines — that produce tornadoes.

When Elena Shevliakova came to the United States from the former Soviet Union in the 1990s, the scientific process provided a great source of positivity and empowerment. Shevliakova is a physical scientist at the NOAA Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory in Princeton, New Jersey. Learn more in this video.

As sea level continues to rise, coastal properties across the country will be more prone to flooding in the coming decades—and the risk varies depending on location. A new study from researchers at the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City, MO, Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences (CIRES) and NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information examined how rising sea levels could impact four U.S. coastal metro areas: Atlantic City, NJ; Miami, FL; Galveston, TX; and Newport–San Pedro, CA.

In partnership with NOAA’s Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory, the Cooperative Institute for Great Lakes Research (CIGLR) hosts a cohort of students each summer to participate in the Great Lakes Summer Fellows Program. This new video series highlights CIGLR’s 2021 fellows, their research, and the virtual fellowship program that included career training opportunities to equip students with the knowledge and skills to be the next generation of Great Lakes scientists.

Did you know NOAA has its very own version of Shark Tank? NOAA’s Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program received over 200 proposals from small businesses vying for start-up funding to create innovative technologies that meet NOAA’s mission! Ideas included aerosol sensors, flood forecasting models, AI algorithms for aquaculture, climate STEM education tools, and much more. We need your expertise to determine which tech ideas NOAA should invest in this year! Add your name to the NOAA SBIR Reviewer Interest form today.

TPO’s Technology Transfer Program executed a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement between NOAA NOS and Jupiter Intel, a climate risk analytics company. The collaboration will help NOAA better understand how stakeholders currently use climate data. This partnership will also identify and move to address current barriers that partners face when integrating climate impacts and risks into planning and business operations. Learn more about NOAA CRADAs.

Reminder that the next NOAA’s Management Skills for NOAA Supervisors (MSNS) training is from May 16-20, 2022 (8:00 am Eastern start time). If seats are still available 2 weeks before the start date, Team Leads may register for the class during that time. Register for the course in the Commerce Learning Center.

It’s time to spring forward this month! Daylight savings time is officially here and that means our days are longer, which allows us to soak up more Vitamin D. Here is an article that discusses more details about the sunshine vitamin.

Reintegration to the worksite remains a significant part of our daily dialogue. Have you thought about how you, your family, and your pet may react to the pending changes? How will your day change, and what resources can you put in place now to help prepare yourself and others? Another interesting read which discusses returning to workspaces can be found via NPR. If you have not done so already, talking to your supervisor, an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) representative, or OAR’s Behavioral Health and Wellness Chief about reintegration can help you to plan and feel more prepared.

Did you know that Mindful-NOAA has free practice sessions every day of the workweek? There is also a mindful movement component which allows the opportunity for physical engagement. Check out their calendar.

If you have questions or need additional tips/support, please contact OAR’s Behavioral Health & Wellness Chief, [email protected], or 202.989.5472.

The Washington Post and New York Times covered the discovery of the 207-year-old whaling ship wreck by Ocean Exploration scientists.

E&E News uses NOAA data to explain why the South gets more killer tornadoes at night.