Climate Change
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National marine sanctuaries and partner organizations monitor ocean conditions and assess the impacts of a changing climate on ecosystems, cultural resources, and coastal communities. Sanctuaries serve as sentinel sites where the impacts of climate change and ocean acidification can be studied.

Learn more about climate science in the National Marine Sanctuary System.

A yellow monitoring bouy sits at the top of the water in the foreground. A research boat full of people can be seen in the background.

State of National Marine Sanctuaries Climate Monitoring

Read more about the current state of climate change monitoring across the National Marine Sanctuary System including physical-chemical core climate indicators; what is being monitored where, and by whom; and climate monitoring gaps and needs.

Text-filled page of a document with the title “National Marine Sanctuaries Climate Science and Monitoring Needs,” it has the NOAA and Office of National Marine Sanctuaries logos in the upper right hand corner and images of a map and shipwreck.

National Marine Sanctuaries Climate Science and Monitoring Needs

Read more about the National Marine Sanctuary System's plans to meet climate monitoring needs and provide critical information to address climate change impacts within and outside of sanctuaries.

Close up view of coral bleaching.

American Samoa

Read about climate change and ocean acidification at National Marine Sanctuary of American Samoa.

Illustration of the climate temperature change in the Pacific Ocean.

Channel Islands

Read about climate change and ocean acidification at Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary.

Under the sea, against a backdrop of dark blue water, a bright orange fish with reflective spots swims away over pink and white corals.

Cordell Bank

Read about climate change and ocean acidification at Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary.

A diver swims over bleached coral.

Florida Keys

Read about climate change and ocean acidification at Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary.

White and pink-tipped anemone on a red, yellow, and pink mesophotic coralline algae reef.

Flower Garden Banks

Read about climate change and ocean acidification at Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary.

An illustration showing the impacts of ocean acidification at Gray’s Reef National Marine Sanctuary.

Gray's Reef

Read about climate change and ocean acidification at Gray’s Reef National Marine Sanctuary.

White circular Anthopleura sola anemone.

Greater Farallones

Read about climate change and ocean acidification at Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary.

Bleached coral colony.

Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale

Read about climate change and ocean acidification at Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary.

A German u-boat wreck, with divers in the background and fish swimming around the wreck.

Monitor

Read about climate change and ocean acidification at Monitor National Marine Sanctuary.

A yellow and white anemone with a kelp forest in the background.

Monterey Bay

Read about climate change and ocean acidification at Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary.

Illustration of the location of the big eddy along the U.S.-Canada border in the Pacific Ocean.

Olympic Coast

Read about climate change and ocean acidification at Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary.

Light purple, pink, and yellow corals underwater, some with algae growing on them.

Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument

Read about climate change and ocean acidification at Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument.

A great shearwater floats in the water, holding a small fish in its beak.

Stellwagen Bank

Read about climate change and ocean acidification at Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary.

A diver takes a photo of a shipwreck, you can see the shoreline in the background.

Thunder Bay

Read about climate change at Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary.