AGU 2021 water resources

NOAA’s National Ocean Service 

The National Ocean Service provides data, tools, and services that support coastal economies and their contribution to the national economy. NOS is dedicated to advancing the following priorities:

The mission is to provide science-based solutions through collaborative partnerships to address evolving economic, environmental, and social pressures on our ocean and coasts.

NOAA’s Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory

NOAA makes critical observations and conducts groundbreaking research to advance our knowledge of the global ocean and its interactions with the earth, atmosphere, ecosystems, and climate.  The Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory's (PMEL) mission is to a) observe, analyze, and predict oceanic and atmospheric phenomena, b) lead the development and deployment of innovative technologies, c) identify and understand ocean-related issues of major consequence, and d) inform society with well-documented, high quality science.  Key research areas at PMEL include ocean acidification, tsunami detection and forecasting, hydrothermal vent systems, fisheries oceanography, and long term climate monitoring and analysis.

NOAA’s National Water Center

The National Water Center (NWC) is a first-in- the world facility that will enable NOAA, in partnership with other federal agencies, to deliver a new generation of water information and services to the nation. These new services will strengthen the nation’s water forecast capabilities for floods and droughts, improve preparedness for water-related disasters, and inform high-value water decisions at the local, state, and national levels. By complementing existing regional River Forecast Centers with a national center, the National Weather Service (NWS) water mission area mirrors the highly successful structure of the meteorological side of the NWS.

Cooperative Institute For Great Lakes Research 

Research Institute

The Cooperative Institute For Great Lakes Research offsite link (CIGLR) Research Institute complements NOAA’s workforce with a highly-skilled, permanent group of research scientists, postdoctoral fellows, technicians, and staff that expands NOAA’s research expertise and is fully-integrated into NOAA’s scientific enterprise. All CIGLR Research Institute personnel hold appointments at the University of Michigan and are collocated with our sponsor, the NOAA Great Lakes Environmental Research Lab (GLERL).

  • CIGLR Research Scientists serve as principal investigators on CIGLR Cooperative Agreement (NOAA) and external proposals, engage in collaborative research with NOAA scientists and Regional Consortium partners, and mentor undergraduates, graduate students, and postdoctoral fellows.
  • CIGLR postdoctoral fellows work with CIGLR and GLERL Research Scientists to receive early career training in NOAA mission-related research topics in the Great Lakes.
  • CIGLR research support staff work with CIGLR and GLERL principal investigators on technical aspects of their research projects.

NOAA’s Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory

The NOAA Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory (GLERL) is one of seven Federal research laboratories in the Oceanic and Atmospheric Research line office of NOAA. Designated on April 25, 1974, GLERL was established to provide a focus for NOAA’s environmental and ecosystem research in the Great Lakes and coastal marine environments. The original GLERL was formed by merging staff from the Limnology and Computer Divisions of the Lake Survey Center of NOAA’s National Ocean Service with the staff of the International Field Year for the Great Lakes offsite link Office.

GLERL has made many important scientific contributions to the understanding and management of the Great Lakes and other coastal ecosystems. GLERL scientists regularly engage with academic, state, federal, and international partners. GLERL research provides information and services to support decisions that affect the environment, recreation, public health and safety, and the economy of the Great Lakes and coastal marine environments.