WASHINGTON, April 22, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- In celebration of Earth Day 2014, the U.S. Postal Service today issued an Earth Day 2014 Forever Stamp depicting Earth temperatures generated by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

The Global: Sea Surface Temperatures Forever Stamp goes on sale today for customers to mail a one-ounce First-Class letter overseas. Customers may purchase the $1.15 stamp at usps.com/stamps, at 800-STAMP24 (800-782-6724), at Post Offices nationwide or visit ebay.com/stamps to shop from a wide variety of postage stamps and collectibles.

The stamp was dedicated at a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) "Community Day" event to celebrate Earth Day 2014.

"This beautiful stamp serves as an iconic image for this year's Earth Day celebration," said Joshua Colin, vice president, Area Operations, U.S. Postal Service. "It symbolizes the important role of science in understanding the Earth and our climate."

Colin unveiled the stamp with help from Mark Schaefer, U.S. Department of Commerce assistant secretary for conservation and management and deputy administrator for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA); Thomas Day, chief sustainability officer, U.S. Postal Service; Calvin Williams, assistant administrator of the Office of Strategic Infrastructure, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA); and William Gicker Jr., art director and designer, U.S. Postal Service. Also in attendance as honored guests were Daniel Poneman, deputy secretary, U.S. Department of Energy; Glenn Podonsky, chief health, safety and security officer, U.S. Department of Energy; and Katherine Tobin, member, Citizens' Stamp Advisory Committee and former member, Board of Governors, U.S. Postal Service.

"This stamp is a fabulous tribute to the NOAA scientists and partners who develop models that help us understand changes in our climate and weather," said Schaefer. "These global models are key to understanding changes in our dynamic planet over both the short- and long-term, and they are major sources of the environmental intelligence NOAA provides each day.  Armed with this kind of information, decision-makers can help communities plan for and take action to become more resilient in the face of Earth's changing climate."

The 1.27 inch diameter stamp depicts a visual representation of the planet's sea surface temperatures. It shows the Earth with North America at the center and parts of South America, Asia and Europe just visible on the edges, surrounded by vivid bands of color throughout the oceans.

The image on the stamp is one frame in a 1,460-frame animation created from a computer model of Earth's climate by NOAA's Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory. The animation has been used by Science On a Sphere, a room-sized educational display that projects a variety of images and views onto a sphere six feet in diameter. The full animation shows how the surface temperatures of the oceans vary seasonally and change over time, and how surface ocean currents transport heat and water around the globe.

The image also combines the depiction of sea-surface temperatures with visible vegetation on land masses, an element derived from a satellite composite created by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). Postal Service Art Director William Gicker designed the stamp.

Customers may view many of this year's other stamps on uspsstamps.com,  Facebook facebook.com/USPSStamps, Twitter @USPSstamps, Pinterest pinterest.com/uspsstamps, Instagram instagram.com/uspostalservice or on uspsstamps.com, the Postal Service's online site for information on upcoming stamp subjects, first-day-of-issue events and other philatelic news.

Ordering First-Day-of-Issue Postmarks
Customers have 60 days to obtain the first-day-of-issue postmark by mail. They may purchase new stamps at local Post Offices, at The Postal Store at usps.com/shop, or by calling 800-STAMP-24. They should affix the stamps to envelopes of their choice, address the envelopes to themselves or others, and place them in larger envelopes addressed to:

Global: Sea Surface Temperature
Special Events
PO Box 92282
Washington, DC 20090-2282

After applying the first-day-of-issue postmark, the Postal Service will return the envelope through the mail. There is no charge for the postmark up to a quantity of 50. For more than 50, the price is five cents each. All orders must be postmarked by June 21, 2014.

Ordering First-Day Covers
The Postal Service also offers first-day covers for new stamp issues and Postal Service stationery items postmarked with the official first-day-of-issue cancellation. Each item has an individual catalog number and is offered in the quarterly USA Philatelic catalog, online at usps.com/shop or by calling 800-782-6724. Customers may request a free catalog by calling 800-782-6724 or writing to:

U.S. Postal Service
Catalog Request
PO Box 219014
Kansas City, MO  64121-9014

Philatelic Products
There are eight philatelic products for this stamp issue:

• 116906, Press Sheet with die cut, $57.50 (print quantity of 2,500)
• 116908, Press Sheet without die cut, $57.50 (print quantity of 2,500)
• 116910, Keepsake (booklet & random Digital Color Postmark), $13.95
• 116916, First-Day Cover, $1.59
• 116921, Digital Color Postmarks, $2.30
• 116924, Framed Art, $39.95
• 116930, Ceremony Program, $6.95
• 116931, Stamp Deck Card, $0.95

The Postal Service receives no tax dollars for operating expenses, and relies on the sale of postage, products and services to fund its operations.

Follow the Postal Service on twitter.com/usps and like us at facebook.com/usps.  For more information, go to usps.com and usps.com/postalfacts.

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140422/77186

SOURCE U.S. Postal Service