1970's

1970 - NOAA created within Dept of Commerce; combining Bureau of Commercial Fisheries, U. S. Weather Bureau, Coast and Geodetic Survey, and Environmental Data Service, National Satellite Center, Research Libraries, among others.

1971 - First Sea Grant Colleges designated; Texas A&M University, University of Rhode Island, Oregon State University, and the University of Washington.

1972 - Marine Protection, Research and Sanctuaries Act establishes NOAA's National Marine Sanctuaries Program; National Coastal Zone Management Program begins; NOAA Corps becomes first uniformed service to recruit women on the same basis as men.

1973 - Endangered Species Act enacted; NMFS responsible for marine species; Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory formed in Seattle, WA.

1975 - GOES-1, NOAA's first owned and operated geostationary satellite launched; U.S.S. Monitor, NOAA's first National Marine Sanctuary; P-3 Orion "Hurricane Hunter", first new aircraft purchased; "Charlie 39", NOAA DC-6B research aircraft retired after 321 penetrations of 42 hurricanes.

1976 - Magnuson-Stevens Fisheries Conservation and Management Act provides for NMFS enforcement of fisheries resources and activities in federal waters; the Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory (PMEL) deploys the first successful moored equatorial current meter - the beginning of the Tropical Atmosphere/ Ocean (TAO) array.

1978 - Ocean Pollution Planning Act recognizes need to investigate effects of pollutants on marine environments; begins NOAA's Hazardous Materials Response and Assessment (HAZMAT).

1979 - NOAA's first polar-orbiting environmental satellite launched.

1980's

1980 - National Undersea Research Program (NURP) established.

1982 - National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC) established in Boulder, CO.

1983 - NOAA assumes operational responsibility for LANDSAT satellite system; formal procurement for NEXRAD, next generation radar, begins for Weather Service; first multibeam sonar survey accomplished by NOAA Ship Davidson.

1984 - Tropical Ocean-Global Atmosphere (TOGA) begins.

1985 - Earth Observation Satellite Company (EOSAT) operates LANDSAT; National Acid Precipitation Research Office established.

1986 - NOAA's Aeronomy Laboratory begins investigation of the Antarctic ozone hole at McMurdo Base, Antarctica.

1987 - NOAA GOES-7 satellite launched.

1988 - 75th Anniversary of the U.S. Department of Commerce.

1989 - North American Datum of 1983 (NAD83) approved for federal surveying and mapping activities; first official horizontal reference point.