Our Mission
The mission of NOAA Ocean Exploration is to explore the ocean for national benefit.
Our MissionThe mission of NOAA Ocean Exploration is to explore the ocean for national benefit.
NOAA Ocean Exploration (NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration and Research) is the only federal program dedicated to exploring the unknown ocean, unlocking its potential through scientific discovery, technological advancements, partnerships, data delivery, and education. By leading national efforts to fill gaps in basic understanding of the deep-ocean environment, we are providing critical data, information, and awareness needed to protect American livelihoods, strengthen national security, and promote a vibrant U.S. economy.
We execute our mission to explore the ocean for national benefit by leading expeditions on NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer and other research vessels; establishing public, private, and academic partnerships; providing funding and other support for ocean exploration expeditions and technology development, including via a competitive grants program; and guiding and supporting the NOAA Ocean Exploration Cooperative Institute .
With priority placed on exploration of deep waters and the waters of the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone, NOAA Ocean Exploration works with partners to explore previously unknown areas of our deep ocean, making discoveries of scientific and economic value and supporting innovations in exploration tools and capabilities. Through live video streams, online expedition coverage, training opportunities, and other outreach, we work to inspire members of the general public as well as the next generation of explorers, helping to build the future workforce needed to increase knowledge and understanding of the ocean system and maintain our country’s influence and leadership in an ever-challenging global arena. The data and information collected during expeditions and projects supported by NOAA Ocean Exploration are publicly available, giving resource managers, the academic community, and the private sector the information they need to identify, understand, and manage ocean resources for this and future generations of Americans.
Our office is also actively working with partners to expand a national ocean exploration program and is playing a key role in the and execution of the National Strategy for Ocean Mapping, Exploration, and Characterization and the strategy’s Implementation Plan.
We explore the ocean because it is important to ALL of us. Thanks to game-changing technological advancements, we can now look into the ocean like never before. But efforts to explore can only be achieved through cooperation and collaboration, such as the partnership between NOAA Ocean Exploration, Schmidt Ocean Institute, and Ocean Exploration Trust.
Video courtesy of Schmidt Ocean Institute.
Download largest version (mp4, 220 MB).