A mapping tool that could help emergency response in the Arctic launched last week.
The Environmental Response Management Application or ERMA is an interactive map, with data layers that can be switched on and off. The various layers have information like offshore lease areas, sea ice extent and critical animal habitats. With all that information consolidated on a single map, the hope is that responders can act more efficiently and effectively in the event of an oil spill or maritime disaster.
A different version of ERMA was used in the Gulf of Mexico during the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.
NOAA created the application with help from the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement.
You can access the website here.
