On 1 July 2025, NIWA merged with GNS Science to become Earth Sciences New Zealand.

Atmospheric analysis

NIWA has been using advanced scientific instruments to measure atmospheric trace gases and isotopes for over 50 years.

  • NIWA's Hotspot Watch for 6 March 2019

    Hotspot
    A weekly update describing soil moisture across the country to help assess whether severely to extremely dry conditions are occurring or imminent. Regions experiencing these soil moisture deficits are deemed “hotspots”. Persistent hotspot regions have the potential to develop into drought.
  • International climate experts gather in Wellington

    Media release
    Weather and climate experts from around the world are meeting in Wellington next week to discuss the critical need for accurate forecasting to cope with a changing climate.
  • NIWA's Hotspot Watch for 28 February 2019

    Hotspot
    A weekly update describing soil moisture across the country to help assess whether severely to extremely dry conditions are occurring or imminent. Regions experiencing these soil moisture deficits are deemed “hotspots”. Persistent hotspot regions have the potential to develop into drought.
  • Sedimentation effects

    Research Project
    This programme looks at the impacts of sediment plumes created by disturbance to the seafloor and the discharge of processed waters.
  • Plastic pollution processes in rivers

    Research Project
    Most of the plastic in the ocean originates on land, being carried to the estuaries and coasts by rivers.
  • NIWA's Hotspot Watch for 20 February 2019

    Hotspot
    Areas deemed hotspots now encompass large portions of the entire North Island. Hotspots remain entrenched across the northern tier of the South Island, including across northern Tasman, Nelson, and much of Marlborough.
  • Voyage Update 7: Heading home

    13 February 2019. By Voyage Leader Dr Richard O'Driscoll.
  • Ocean acidification—what is it?

    The on-going rise of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere is not only changing our climate—it is also changing our oceans. 
  • Scientists return from Antarctic voyage

    Media release
    After travelling almost 12,000km in the past six weeks, a group of scientists returns to Wellington at the weekend with new knowledge about life in the Ross Sea of Antarctica.
  • NIWA's Hotspot Watch for 13 February 2019

    Hotspot
    Across the North Island, soil moisture levels continued to decrease nearly everywhere during the past week. Across the South Island, soil moisture levels decreased nearly everywhere during the past week with little rainfall in the north, south and east.
  • Voyage Update 6: Sea ice, sampling fish and where they gyre

    9 February 2019. By Voyage Leader Dr Richard O'Driscoll.
  • NIWA's Hotspot Watch for 7 February 2019

    Hotspot
    Across the North Island, soil moisture levels decreased nearly everywhere during the past week. In the South Island, soil moisture levels decreased during the past week with meagre rainfall in the north and east.