Two tropical cyclone names retired from list of Atlantic storms

Two tropical cyclone names in the Atlantic were retired from the official name rotation by the World Meteorological Organization’s hurricane committee because of the deaths and damage they caused in 2010. The committee issues the list of potential names for tropical cyclones to be used every six years for both the Atlantic and eastern North P...

Commerce Secretary Announces Additional Reforms to Overhaul NOAA's Law Enforcement System

U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke today announced that he would allow fishermen and businesses until May 6, 2011, to submit complaints about potentially excessive enforcement penalties to the Special Master for review, as well as request stays of their penalties as part of the complaint process....

NOAA administrator unveils Arctic plan during Aspen speech

NOAA explained today how it will concentrate scientific, service, and stewardship efforts in the Arctic when it released its first ever Arctic Vision and Strategy. Jane Lubchenco, Ph.D., under secretary of commerce for oceans and atmosphere and NOAA administrator, made the announcement during a keynote address to the Aspen Institute in Washington....

February Ranked 17th Warmest on Record

This year, the globe experienced the 17th warmest February since record keeping began in 1880, as the climate phenomenon La Niña continued to be a significant factor. Last month's average Arctic sea ice extent tied with 2005 as the smallest extent for February in its 32-year period of record....

NOAA's Fisheries Service Raises Butterfish Catch to Help Prevent Premature Closure of Squid Fishery

A new emergency increase to the butterfish fishing limit will enable squid fishermen off the northeast, who often catch butterfish unintentionally while fishing for squid, to continue working, while still protecting the butterfish stock....