Our Daily Planet: Gulf Gas Surge and NOAA's Budget

Each weekday morning, OurAmazingPlanet takes the pulse of the Earth, reporting on natural phenomena and exploration news from around the globe.

Gulf Gas Surge: During last summer's oil spill, natural gas poured into the Gulf of Mexico at more than 75,000 times the normal amount in the water, a study found.

NOAA Budget: President Obama requested a budget of $5.5 billion for the the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), which runs the National Weather Service and other agencies, for fiscal year 2012. That's a $56.8 million decrease from 2011.

Great Lakes Funding: It seems the Great Lakes may be another loser in the new budget. Funding for the Great Lakes restoration may drop by $125 million.

Previously on Our Daily Planet: South Korea 'Snow Bomb' and Valentine's Day Cave Dining

Reach OurAmazingPlanet staff writer Brett Israel at bisrael@techmedianetwork.com. Follow him on Twitter @btisrael.

Brett Israel was a staff writer for Live Science with a focus on environmental issues. He holds a bachelor’s degree in biochemistry and molecular biology from The University of Georgia, a master’s degree in journalism from New York University, and has studied doctorate-level biochemistry at Emory University.