Five ways NOAA scientists helped improve human and marine life in 2025

NOAA data advanced space weather warnings, made water safer, protected right whales, and more

NOAA led no shortage of scientific breakthroughs in 2025: from launching satellites containing new instruments to advance space weather observations, to deploying uncrewed systems for critical data that could improve hurricane forecasts.

Our 2025 NOAA Science Report focuses on advancements that contribute to NOAA’s robust research and development enterprise, help reduce the impacts of hazardous weather, and promote sustainable use and stewardship of ocean and coastal resources.

Here are five highlights from the 2025 NOAA Science Report:

NOAA satellites soared to new heights to warn of space weather

In September 2025, the Space Weather Follow On-Lagrange 1 (SWFO-L1) observatory—America’s first satellite designed specifically for continuous, operational space weather observations—launched from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The observatory, now named Space weather Observations at L1 to Advance Readiness – 1 (SOLAR-1), carries a suite of instruments including the Compact Coronagraph-2, serving as an early warning system for coronal mass ejections and other space weather heading toward Earth from the sun.

When directed toward Earth, these space weather events can impact astronaut safety, aviation, electric power grids, satellites, and both navigation and communication systems. Data from SOLAR-1 will enhance NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center alerts, warnings, and forecasts provided to those sectors in addition to agriculture, defense, and human spaceflight industries. On Earth, the familiar aurora (Northern Lights) are the visible manifestations of these storms interacting with Earth’s upper atmosphere.

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying NOAA’s Space Weather Follow On-Lagrange 1 (SWFO-L1) observatory, NASA’s Interstellar Mapping and Acceleration Probe (IMAP),and the agency’s Carruthers Geocorona Observatory lifts off from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida at 7:30 a.m. EDT Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2025. Credit: SpaceX

Scientists moved quickly to study fire effects on California’s coastal ecosystem

NOAA researchers working in the waters off the coast of California took action during the 2025 Los Angeles fires to collect debris and water samples of ash to study the effects of fires on ocean ecosystems. In a rapid response, researchers altered an ongoing fisheries survey on NOAA Ship Reuben Lasker, to additionally collect essential data and samples showing the fires’ spread and contaminants. These observations provide valuable information on the effects of fires on one of the country’s most productive marine ecosystems vital to commercial and recreational fisheries.

The CalCOFI team collected samples of seawater contaminated with fire debris. Credit: Rasmus Swalethorp/Scripps Institution of Oceanography

New technology mined data from inside raging hurricanes

In 2025, NOAA and partners tested new instruments to gather data in hard-to-reach areas of tropical cyclones. Emerging technology broke records for data collection in hurricanes, such as the Black Swift S0 drone, a small uncrewed aircraft system deployed from NOAA WP-3D Hurricane Hunter aircraft that collects atmospheric data from the lowest levels of the storm. NOAA also tested the Skyfora StreamSonde, an ultra-lightweight instrument released from aircraft that descends slower than conventional dropsondes and gathers more detailed atmospheric data. One dropsonde recorded a wind gust of 252 mph during Hurricane Melissa—the strongest wind ever measured by a dropsonde.

NOAA also tested the Dragoon Coriolis, a long-endurance, low-cost uncrewed aircraft that can be remotely launched from land into hurricanes. Not to be outdone by uncrewed aircraft, the small wind-powered uncrewed surface vehicle, C-Star transmitted data from the ocean surface within Category 5 Hurricane Humberto.

NOAA Researchers, aviators, and engineers aboard NOAA Hurricane Hunter aircraft test Skyfora, a lightweight weather sensor dropped from aircraft into the atmosphere to collect weather data. Credit: NOAA/AOML/CIMAS/Genna Nordling

NOAA scientists used satellite technology and AI to benefit marine mammals

NOAA’s Geospatial Artificial Intelligence for Animals initiative deployed advanced satellite technology and artificial intelligence to detect marine life from space and support conservation—a groundbreaking advancement that could help monitor the critically endangered North Atlantic right whale, which has an estimated population of fewer than 380. By detecting and validating potential whale locations, scientists can help protect endangered mammals without relying on broad closures or restrictions that hamper the livelihoods of maritime workers. The initiative is one of NOAA’s many public-private partnerships, this one involving the Naval Research Laboratory, the U.S. Geological Survey and Microsoft AI for Good.

North Atlantic right whale mother and calf as seen from a research drone called a hexacopter. Credit: NOAA Northeast Fisheries Science Center/Lisa Conger and Elizabeth Josephson

Robots helped scientists gather data for early warnings of water conditions toxic to humans and fish

In 2025, NOAA and partners deployed a new autonomous surface vehicle called Seasats Lightfish off the Washington State coast to detect harmful algal blooms (HAB) offshore before harmful effects could reach inshore areas and affect fish and human health.

Offshore HAB samples can be gathered manually from ships, but autonomous vehicles reduce the costs and personnel required, while increasing sampling frequency. Seasats Lightfish, for example, can travel up to 100 nautical miles on a full charge under solar power.