Climate Change 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 and climate literacy. A compiled list of climate related webinars can be found here featuring topics like coral, fisheries, sea level rise, and how climate change will have mass impacts on the sanctuary system and ocean as a whole.

Left to right: Windmills on a hillside; another hillside; and bleached coral reefs.

Developing Offshore Wind in U.S. Waters Part 2: Offshore Wind Development and the Structure and Function of Marine Ecosystems

The pace, scale, and magnitude of offshore wind development in the U.S. and around the globe is increasing rapidly. Countries are committing to this new ocean use to decarbonize their energy systems and as a goal for economic growth. The scale of this development has moved from small turbines in shallow waters of the North Sea to new technologies that allow for large-scale industrialization in marine ecosystems. This webinar will explore the potential interactions of this growing industry with the structure and function of marine ecosystems and what science is still needed to better understand these interactions. This webinar is co-sponsored by the NOAA National Marine Protected Areas Center and Open Communications for the Ocean (MPA News, OpenChannels, EBM Tools Network).

Left to right: Researcher attaching a scientific tag to a whale; divers underwater documenting a shipwreck; and a male researcher holding a seabird.

Teamwork Makes the Dream Work: How Visitors Help Sanctuaries Monitor Climate Change

From severe storms to ocean warming to sea level rise, climate change poses a clear and present threat to treasured places, critical biodiversity, and cultural resources across the national marine sanctuary system. Sanctuaries need to monitor climate change's impact within their sites and on natural resources, so they can identify and respond to these impacts. Everyone who visits and uses sanctuaries can play an invaluable role in ensuring their continued prosperity by helping to monitor for climate change impacts. Join us to learn more about the importance of climate change monitoring in sanctuaries, and how all kinds of visitors - from divers, to teachers, to fishers - are helping to monitor and educate about climate change impacts in Stellwagen Bank and Florida Keys national marine sanctuaries.

Left to right: An almost all white brain coral, with a small amount of remaining pink in the bottom left hand corner; four baby green sea turtles near the surface of the water; and a sandpiper walking on the beach.

Boiling Over: Marine Heatwaves, What are They and What Can We Expect?

Much like we experience periods of extreme and unusual heat in different areas on land, parts of the ocean can experience persistently high water temperatures, also known as marine heatwaves. These extreme events can have devastating impacts on marine ecosystems and the communities that depend on them. The dangerous effects of marine heatwaves have been seen in national marine sanctuaries and by sanctuary users.

Developing Offshore Wind in U.S. Waters Part 1 webinar preview

Developing Offshore Wind in U.S. Waters Part 1: The Planning and Regulatory Framework

he deployment of offshore wind energy facilities in US waters has tremendous potential to help the country deliver on its climate change commitments and clean energy goals. It is also a reality beginning to take shape with the first commercial-scale facilities beginning construction in 2023 in the Northeast US. In Part 1 of our webinar series on ocean wind energy in US waters, we will explore the historical and policy background and framing behind the US wind energy transition, including an introduction to the planning and regulation processes and the players involved. This webinar will set the groundwork for future discussions exploring offshore wind energy, its future in US waters, and its compatibility and interactions with marine protected areas and other ocean uses.

Left to right: A group of people stand on a cliff overlooking a rocky shoreline;  Five students gather around an outdoor tank with murky water, a staff member leans over the tank and shows them a fish in the tank; On a beach a person in a black hat and sunglasses untangles an albatross chick from white string, there is debris on the beach, and other chicks, sand, and waves in the background.

Caretaking for Climate Resilience - Capitol Hill Ocean Week 2023

From coral reefs to coastal wetlands, those that depend on marine ecosystems are increasingly finding their livelihoods, physical security, food security, and cultural heritage under threat. In response, communities have partnered with local, state, and federal governments to protect vital marine spaces now, in the future, and in the context of a changing ocean. Watch this CHOW 2023 session on tools and approaches that national marine sanctuaries and our partners are using to advance this work and our understanding of caretaking for climate resilience.

Left to right: Seagrass; humpback whale breaching out of the ocean; and a mangrove tree, which are all carbon sinks.

The Ocean as a Carbon Sponge: why blue carbon is important

This engaging presentation covers the basics of blue carbon - what it is, why it's important - and will focus particularly on the role of marine plants, algae, and animals in sequestering carbon and keeping it out of the atmosphere. We'll also discuss actions that can be taken to ensure blue carbon is protected and, when necessary, restored.

Left to right: A vibrant rocky reef; large baleen whale tail coming out of the water; and a green sea turtle at a fish cleaning station underwater.

Managing for Climate Change in MPAs: Stories and Tools from National Marine Sanctuaries and the National MPA Center

U.S. National Marine Sanctuaries and the National Marine Protected Areas Center are leaders in MPA management in a changing ocean. By leveraging the diversity of ecosystems, geographies, cultures, and experiences represented in the National Marine Sanctuary System, they have developed a suite of products that can help other MPA managers advance and accelerate climate-smart management of their MPAs. This webinar will highlight climate monitoring, assessment, and adaptation experiences from the National Marine Sanctuary System and share a number of new products and tools from the National MPA Center, including an MPA Climate Vulnerability Assessment Guide and Climate Adaptation Story Map, designed to help MPA managers accelerate and enhance climate monitoring, assessment, and adaptation within their own MPAs.

Discover the Climate Change and Ocean Acidification Resource Collections

As part of our 50th anniversary, we have been launching robust resource collections throughout the year. Explore each collection of NOAA videos, lesson plans, webinars, web stories, virtual reality, and much more. In this new era of ocean conservation, we encourage formal and informal educators and other interested people to take advantage of the robust educational materials available in each topically-based collection. During this webinar, we will be focusing on the Climate Change and Ocean Acidification Resource Collections.

A teal presentation slide titled “Climate Change, Whales, and Kids: how science and education can protect species and fight climate change” in white, the Office of National Marine Sanctuaries logo is in the middle of the slide, and featured with the NOAA logo on a dark blue strip at the top of the slide.

Climate Change, Whales, and Kids: how science and education can protect species and fight climate change

Globally, whales and other megafauna play an important role in the carbon cycle and in reducing atmospheric carbon dioxide. In this webinar, the Climate Program Coordinator for Greater Farallones and Cordell Bank national marine sanctuaries discusses the latest science on "whale carbon," and the critical efforts underway to rebuild whale stocks by reducing impacts, such as lethal collisions with ships. Recent engagement with school children on the subject made a big splash, resulting in a renewed commitment from the largest container shipping line to continue to go slow for whales, demonstrating the important role that community engagement plays in ocean protection.

Presentation slide with title Seaside Chats, sunset over the ocean as the background and logo of beach chair in front of water and sunsetting and text Seaside Chats.

Discovering Climate History in Coral Skeletons

The skeletons of massive corals grow in layers, similar to tree rings, that can be counted to determine the years of growth. Scientists can look at the chemistry of each of these layers to see what the water temperature was when that part of the coral skeleton was growing, as well as other indicators of environmental conditions. By stringing together these yearly skeletal records, scientists can chronicle how the ocean and the coral reef have changed over time.

Presentation slide with white title “Inspire your students to dive in the Coral Check-up Lesson Series” and photo on left side of diver collecting coral data.

Inspire your students to dive in as coral scientists-in-training! Introducing the Coral Check-up Lesson Series

Dive in and learn about the newly released Coral Check-up Lesson Series. This free, NGSS-aligned curriculum introduces middle school students to coral reef monitoring and ecology through virtual real world experiences focused in the Hawaiian archipelago. Students use NOAA and NOAA partner data and resources to assess coral bleaching impacts, immersing themselves in a worldwide effort to protect and conserve coral reefs.

Green, blue and white Presentation slide titled Paradise Lost? Future Fisheries in a Climate-Driven Gulf with the environmental defense fund logo in bottom right corner.

Paradise Lost? Future Fisheries in a Climate-Driven Gulf

Climate change threatens key life support systems on our planet, especially our oceans. Even with drastic global actions to reduce emissions, changes in the ocean will grow more profound and accelerate. This interactive discussion will examine the interventions necessary for sustainable fisheries in a climate-driven Gulf of Mexico.

Presentation slide for “Managing National Marine Sanctuaries in a Changing Ocean” with author’s name and background information and map of global water temperature.

Managing National Marine Sanctuaries in a Changing Ocean

As a system of nationally significant places managed by NOAA, national marine sanctuaries are directly experiencing climate impacts, and serve as important assets for climate-informed management, science and education. This presentation will discuss how sanctuaries work with partners to use NOAA climate information in management, our role as climate educators, building a network of sentinel sites, and challenges in managing sanctuaries in a changing ocean.

Presentation slide for Gardening Corals for Reef Restoration with photo of presenter conducting reef restoration data collection while scuba diving.

Gardening Corals for Reef Restoration

As coral reefs decline globally, interest in using coral gardening techniques for reef restoration is increasing. This webinar presentation will review well-established and cutting-edge techniques for propagating and restoring corals, as well as experimental work focused on identifying corals that can survive future ocean conditions.

Presentation slide of webinar hosts for “Holu Lalo: A strategy for enhancing resilience of French Frigate Shoals Atoll.” From left to right: female with gray hair, black turtleneck tank top and red flower in left ear; male smiling in water with swim shirt. Male with black and gray hair on boat with black shirt.

Holu Lalo: A strategy for enhancing resilience of French Frigate Shoals Atoll

In this webinar, Kiloaulani Ka'awa-Gonzales will discuss the efforts taken by monument staff and their climate collaborators to 1) identify priority climate-related stressors present at Lalo, 2) explore adaptive management options to address these climate-related impacts, and 3) establish a comprehensive and collaborative resilience strategy outlining innovative implementation of actions intended to maintain and enhance the resilience of terrestrial and marine habitats at Lalo.

Presentation slide with photo of olympic coast for the background with the title and author listed. Sea Grant Washington, ONMS, NOAA, and Feiro marine life center logos at bottom.

Olympic Coast as a Sentinel: Resilience Actions for Tribal Community Well-Being in the Face of Ocean Change

Dr. Melissa Poe, a social scientist at Washington Sea Grant, works in partnership with the Olympic Coast Treaty Tribes to better understand the risks of ocean change to tribal community well-being, and identify actions that are rooted in Indigenous priorities for resilience.

Presentation slide with photos of underwater environment, sea otter swimming, seals on a rock, map of water temperature, and male speaker on far right.

A Changing Sanctuary: Current & Future Impacts of Climate Change on Olympic Coast

Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary protects a highly productive upwelling system that fuels a vibrant ecosystem home to seabirds, fish, and marine mammals, including culturally and economically important salmon, oysters, and mussels.

Presentation slide titled Sex Lives of Corals: From Coral Spawning to Coral Conservation with coral restoration photo as background. Boston university logo and Davies Marine Population Genomics Lab logo at the bottom.

Sex Lives of Corals: From Spawning to Conservation

Corals exhibit some of the most fascinating reproductive behavior in the animal kingdom. Once a year they release their eggs and sperm into the water column for external fertilization. This life history strategy allows corals, which are usually stuck in one place, to disperse to new reefs. This spawning behavior also allows coral researchers to study a variety of different research topics to better understand coral symbiosis, dispersal, and responses to climate change.

Statue with water and waves coming higher on to the beach with text of the title. Border on top with hand drawings of porpoises, fish, sea star, shells, and a red crab.

Sea Level Rise: Around the World and Here at Home

Sea level rise is an impact of climate change and is of special concern to coastal communities around the world. Dr. Ian Miller will talk through the current state of the science as it relates to both observed and projected or future sea level globally, and in the waters around Washington State.

Presentation slide for “Every Calf Counts” and photo of female presenter in gray hat, and white t shirt.

Every Calf Counts: Hawaii's humpback whale mother and calf pairs in a time of changing climate

Each winter, humpback whales from across the North Pacific Ocean head to Hawaiian waters to breed and raise their young. Within the islands, the nearshore waters along the western shoreline of Maui, Hawai`i are a favored nursery region for mothers and their young calves. Over the past twenty years—the Keiki Kohola Project—a small, grassroots research organization based on Maui, has been working to provide information to help ensure the well-being of mothers and calf pairs during this critical nursery period.

Blue background with title “Heritage in the Eye of the Storm” with four photos from left to right of waterbody with trees on the edge, map with colorful markings, photo of each female speaker.

Submerged NC: Heritage in the Eye of the Storm – A Systematic Effort to Document Cultural Resources Damaged and Threatened by Hurricanes in Coastal North Carolina

The hurricanes of 2018 devastated coastal North Carolina. Not only did they cause significant damage to property and infrastructure, Florence and Michael also impacted coastal cultural resources, including archaeological sites and cemeteries. In response to these storms, the National Park Service is providing emergency supplemental funds to support preservation efforts, including surveys to assist in planning for future storms.

Dark blue background of presentation slide for The World Does Not Stand Still: Understanding the Impacts of Climate Change in Papahanaumokuakea.

The World Does Not Stand Still - Understanding the Impacts of Climate Change in Papahānaumokuākea

Current and future impacts from climate change are considered to be the single greatest threat to the long-term integrity of Papahānaumokuākea. The effects of climate change are already being observed, with rising sea levels leading to shoreline retreat, increasing ocean heat content producing more frequent and severe coral bleaching events, and a more westward trajectory for tropical cyclones inflicting severe damage to certain atolls, notably Lalo (French Frigate Shoals).

Seagrass meadow background with white text box with title Seagrass Meadows: Unsung Heroes in Combating climate Change with photos of each speaker.

Seagrass Meadows: Unsung Heroes in Combating Climate Change?

Seagrass meadows can be found from the tropics to the arctic circle, with over 60 species in total. These meadows form the foundation of many marine food webs, while also serving to improve water quality, stabilize sediment, and buffer storm surge. More recently, scientists are investigating seagrasses as a natural-based solution in combating climate change.

Presentation slide titled White Sharks: Population changes off of the west coast of north america, and a shark fin coming out of the top of the surface.

Tracking White Sharks! An Update on Population Changes off the West Coast of North America

This presentation will detail the latest developments in a long-term study of the northeast Pacific great white sharks. A combination of management practices and climate change have led to range shifting and population fluxes among juvenile and adult white sharks.

Presentation slide titled Hawaiian Honu Take on Climate Change: Signs of a Fragile Recover with many large sea turtles laying on a beach in Hawaii with cloudy sky.

Hawaiian Honu take on Climate Change: Signs of a Fragile Recovery

The long-term sea turtle tagging study has produced a wealth of information about the status and trends of nesting females in the Hawaiian islands. There remains, however, limited data to assess the potential effects of climate change. Join Marylou Staman as she shares what we've learned so far, and what current research projects are building the foundation for understanding the population's resilience to climate change.

Presentation slide titled Revealing the Mysterious Coral and Sponge Gardens of Sur Ridge in Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary with two humpback whales surfacing.

Countless mysteries exist in the depths of Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary (MBNMS), including Sur Ridge – a deep-sea rocky outcrop off the coast of Big Sur that is roughly the size of Manhattan. Thanks to state-of-the-art marine technology developed by the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI), the stunning deep-sea ecosystems of Sur Ridge are being revealed.

Graphic of colorful coral reef and blue water with Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument logo with 15 shaped candles on fire on top of coral.

Why We Need to Protect More of the Ocean

Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument, established in 2006, and today celebrating 15 years of protections, was the first remote large-scale MPA and protects one of the most intact coral reef ecosystems on Earth. This predator-dominated ecosystem harbors unique biodiversity, numerous threatened and endangered species, and serves as a baseline for understanding how natural coral reefs function in the absence of humans.

Starry sky with bioluminescence in the waters. Text reads Bioluminescence In The Monterey Bay and contact information.

Bioluminescent Blooms

Join Dr. Steve Haddock, senior scientist at Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute and nature photographer Johnny Chien as we explore the phenomenon of Bioluminescence or "glowing waves" from two unique perspectives. The event will be a pairing of science and art, focusing on plankton blooms in Monterey Bay in a changing climate, and the light producing organisms that spark the firework blooms we witnessed in the crashing waves at night.

Three orcas’ dorsal fins emerging from the water with text Hostile Waters, The Seattle Times.

What orcas teach us: the southern residents' battle against extinction and the state of our watersheds

Over 18 months, the Seattle Times took a deep look at the southern resident orca extinction crisis to explore and expose the roots of why these animals, the top predator in our marine waters, are struggling to survive. Lynda Mapes, the lead journalist on the newspaper's award-winning series Hostile Waters will explain what the newspaper learned and solutions that will benefit people and orca alike. Lynda Mapes is the environment reporter at the Seattle Times.

Presentation slide titled How will our kupuna islands respond to climate change? A look at past, present and future sea level change and storms within Papahanaumokuakea with an aerial photo of a beach.

How will the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands respond to climate change? A look at past, present, and future sea level change and storms within Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument

The future existence of low lying atoll islands is of global concern, as entire island nations and highly evolved ecosystems are projected to become uninhabitable in the next 30-50 years due to sea level rise. Despite this recognized vulnerability, most studies fail to account for the biological controls upon island resiliency.

Presentation slide titled Understanding El Nino: Using NOAA’s Data in the Classroom with light gray speckled background and photo of students in classroom in circle frame on the right.

Understanding El Niño - Using NOAA's New Educational Tools

As this year's La Niña subsides, join us for a science-based exploration of this powerful phenomena. In this presentation, participants will dive deep into Data in the Classroom's El Niño Module to examine decades of observations from Earth observing satellites and take a virtual tour of the new web-based curricular modules and data tools.

Sandy beach with large rocks on shore. Title above photo reads Climate change Communication: Resources for Making it Stick with ONMS and NOAA logos on top right.

Communicating Climate Change: Resources for Making it Stick

Ever wonder the best way to talk about climate change? Felt unsure if your message is clear and connects to your audience? Effectively communicating complex issues involves sound science and an element of artistry. This webinar shares climate communication tools from the National Network of Ocean and Climate Change Interpreters (NNOCCI), as well as a way to get involved in the NOAA Climate Stewards Program.

Presentation slide for Mission Iconic Reefs webinar with two hosts: female on left with dark hair, red flower in left ear, smiling in black turtleneck tank top. Male on right with red hair, face and neck above the surface of water in black shirt.

Mission: Iconic Reefs - An Ambitious Plan to Restore 7 Sites in the Florida Keys

NOAA and partners have developed an ambitious approach to restore corals at seven sites in the Florida Keys. Join staff from Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary to learn about Mission: Iconic Reefs, a 20-year restoration plan to save Florida's coral reefs.

Presentation slide for Mission: Iconic Reefs webinar with photo of presenter Sarah Fangman. Female smiling with blonde short hair, gold necklace, and purple shirt.

Mission: Iconic Reefs, An Ambitious Plan to Restore 7 Sites in the Florida Keys

Over the last 40 years, coral reefs in the Florida Keys, like reefs worldwide, have suffered dramatic declines. Nearly 90 percent of the live corals that once dominated the reefs have been lost. Emergency action is required to change the trajectory of the health of coral reefs in the Keys. NOAA and partners have developed an ambitious approach to restore corals at seven ecologically significant sites in the Florida Keys.

Presentation slide titled Dive into a Changing Ecosystem webinar. Photo of speaker in diving gear smiling on beach. Photo of urchin barrens underwater.

Dive into a Changing Ecosystem: From Lush Kelp Forests to Urchin Barren

Tucked along California's coast is a vibrant underwater forest of towering kelp and diverse wildlife. In the last six years, unprecedented outbreaks of purple sea urchins have decimated kelp forests within the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, lending several questions: What caused the urchin outbreak? How have sea otters responded? Will intervention and urchin culling enhance kelp recovery?

Four young boys, From left to right: boy with black shirt, gray shorts, and blue leggings with yellow gloves and filled burlap sack over his back. Boy smiling with a clipboard in a red tshirt, black camo shorts, and red leggings. Boy smiling with a gray tshirt, red shorts, sunglasses while holding a small tree with globes on. Boy smiling in blue hat and blue t shirt, black shorts, with clipboard and pencils and empty burlap sack in his arms.

NOAA Planet Stewards Webinar Archives

In November 2017 the NOAA Climate Stewards Education Project changed its name to NOAA Planet Stewards. The program expanded its scope to include a wider range of NOAA topics related to understanding and protecting our environment including decreasing the impacts of marine debris, as well as conserving and restoring natural resources.