Welcome to the official Flickr account for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, or NOAA.

NOAA, an agency of the U.S. government, seeks to understand and predict changes in the Earth's environment, from the depths of the ocean to the surface of the sun, and to conserve and manage our coastal and marine resources.

We use flickr to share some of our amazing mission with you via images from our researchers; scientists; laboratories; fleet of research aircraft, satellites and boats; and the rest of our dedicated staff across the country. We also have several groups you can join and share with us your images from spotting severe weather, natural phenomena and rare creatures of the sea.

These official NOAA photographs are being made available for publication by news organizations and/or for personal (public) use printing by the subject(s) of the photographs. The photographs may not be used in materials, advertisements, products, or promotions that in any way suggest approval or endorsement by NOAA, the Department of Commerce or the United States government.

Credit: Unless listed as public domain, images must be credited to the source listed on the photo information page.

**Please also visit our expansive flickr photo archive managed and operated by the NOAA Central Library at www.flickr.com/photos/noaaphotolib.

Learn more about NOAA at www.noaa.gov. Follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/noaa, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/noaa, and on Instagram at www.instagram.com/noaa

COMMENTS

We welcome your comments to our photos and expect that our conversations here will be courteous. Please remember that you are fully responsible for the content of your comments.

NOAA does not discriminate against any views, however we do reserve the right to delete comments that violate our comment policy.

*This account is maintained by NOAA Communications office.