The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration ( NOAA ) is a scientific agency of the United States government that is focused to monitor the oceans surrounding the United States and the atmosphere . The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration ( NOAA ) , pronounced \/ Ë no ( Ê ) . É \/ , like `` noah '' , is a scientific agency within the United States Department of Commerce focused on the conditions of the oceans and the atmosphere .