Happening Now: NOAA operations in real time

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  Plant based global indicators-
  NOAA uses satellites and ground-based instruments to monitor the release of emissions into our atmosphere from a multitude of sources, including vegetation. These observations help scientists at NOAA and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) measure and forecast the air quality. The above image shows the Above-Ground Forest Biomass which depicts measured amounts of biomass (from forest, plants, etc.) emissions released into the atmosphere. NOAA and NASA satellites are used to map vegetation cover, leaf area index, and land cover types, which are used to derive natural emissions levels. Furthermore, by using data from the VIIRS instrument on the NOAA-NASA S-NPP satellite, NOAA can detect the differences in vegetation patterns and new foliage indicators used to identify the onset of spring.
  More about Above-Ground Forest Biomass observations: http://www.star.nesdis.noaa.gov/star/AQ_fuelloadingdata.php

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  The Planting Season and Migrating Growth Regions
  Gardeners need to know what and when to plant to ensure an attractive garden or good harvest. NOAA's National Climatic Data Center (NCDC) works with organizations such as the American Public Garden Association (APGA) to provide climate data indicating what and when to plant. NCDC works with APGA and its members to educate them about how climate change is changing planting and blooming seasons and moving how some plants are migrating from their traditional growth regions. Data products NCDC and APGA are using for their work include the Regional Snowfall Index, Frost/Freeze Date, and Severe Weather Data and Information.
  More at National Climatic Data Center (NCDC)

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  Seasonal Monitoring of Coastal Ecosytem Health
  The Visible Infrared Imager Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) instrument on NOAA/NASA Suomi NPP satellite will provide ocean color measurements, which are used to determine areas of harmful algal blooms, ocean phytoplankton, and sediment runoffs. These harmful algal blooms may also endanger fragile coastal ecosystems, fisheries and human health. NOAA's high-resolution ocean color data on S-NPP and the future JPSS satellite will enable improved operational forecasts for harmful algal blooms in varying locales, like western and eastern Gulf of Mexico.
  For more on VIIRS, see http://www.jpss.noaa.gov/.

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  Harmful Algal Blooms -"The Red Tide"
  Harmful Algal Blooms (HAB), also known as Red Tide, can be deadly for shellfish and marine life. This year, increasing HAB conditions off the coast of Florida have killed a record 174 endangered manatees. Extended Red Tide conditions can also affect the health of marine birds and humans who come in contact with the water. The NOAA’s Harmful Algal Bloom Operation Forecast System provides information on bloom events. This system relies on satellite imagery, field observations, models, public health reports, and buoy data.
  To learn more about how NOAA monitors harmful algal bloom's see, http://tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov/hab/hab_health_info.html. or Harmful Algae Blooms Observing System
  Watch video about Red Tide