Changing Ocean Resource Collection

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Changing weather patterns and storm events, warming seas, ocean acidification, and sea level rise, are becoming more prevalent across sanctuary communities. Changing ocean conditions will affect national marine sanctuaries, their communities, and the overall health of the ocean, which is vital to our quality of life.

Explore a collection of NOAA videos, lesson plans, posters, webinars, virtual reality, and more to gain a deeper understanding of changing ocean conditions and how we can build resilience to the challenges these changes create.

High king tide breaking near a brown stairwell to the beach, no sand visible.

Background

The overall health of national marine sanctuaries will be impacted by global changes in ocean conditions. National marine sanctuaries and monuments must contend with rising water temperatures and sea levels, water that is more acidic and contains less oxygen, shifting species, and altered weather patterns and storms.

Two young children, one male with brown hair and one female with blonde hair, in red t-shirts on a rock looking into the blue water in the Channel Islands. In the background from left to right, there is a white boat, multiple large rocks sticking out of the water, two kayakers, and cliffs.

Lesson Plans & Activities

These interactive lesson plans and activities are open to everyone, with a focus on students, formal educators, and informal educators to increase ocean and environmental literacy. These activities will help students gain a better understanding of global increases in average temperature, the impacts of these increases, and more.

Vibrant green seagrass moves in the underwater currents of the ocean off NOAA’s Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary.

Coastal Resilience and Blue Carbon

Blue carbon is the term for carbon captured and stored by the world's ocean and coastal ecosystems. Coastal blue carbon ecosystems contribute to community resilience to changing ocean conditions by protecting vulnerable shorelines from the pressures of increased flooding and sea level rise, and acting as buffers against coastal storms. Specific species play critical roles in blue carbon ecosystems. Marine protected areas preserve blue carbon habitats and processes.

Large coral reef with a wide reaching bleached coral.

Webinars

The National Marine Sanctuaries Webinar Series provides educators, students, and the interested public with educational and scientific expertise, resources, and training to support ocean literacy. A compiled list of webinars relevant to resilience and changing ocean conditions can be found here featuring topics like coral, fisheries, sea level rise, and how changing ocean conditions will have mass impacts on the resilience of the sanctuary system and ocean as a whole.

Flooding in suburban neighborhood with black car driving through water in the road from right to left.

Videos

Check out these videos that illustrate how changing ocean conditions are affecting national marine sanctuaries and how the National Marine Sanctuary System is working to understand and respond to the impacts of rising global average temperatures.

From left to right, large colorful coral reef in bright blue water, diver in the distance.

Elementary School Collection: Changing Ocean Conditions

It is our job to protect people and places from harm caused by changing ocean conditions. Before we can take action, we have to understand what is causing these changes and how it impacts our environment.

From top to bottom, yellow and orange sunset, trees, water reflecting trees and sunset, ducks swimming close to the shore, dry cracked ground showing signs of drought.

Additional Materials

Still curious? Look no further than the Additional Materials page, the final stop of this resource collection. Find adaptation and resilience plans, research reports, and tools for educators.