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.

  • Blog: The Toolbox meeting - 17 February

    17 February 2018 Every day at noon everyone on the ship gathers on the bridge for a toolbox meeting to discuss the work ahead of us for the day.
  • Blog: Our first icebergs - 15 February

    15 February 2018Our first icebergs
  • Blog: Night patrol and iceberg spotting - 14 February

    14 February We are not far enough south yet to have 24 hours of daylight so it is still getting dark at night, albeit a bit later than in Wellington right now.
  • Warmer seas make whales more difficult to find and track

    Media release
    A two-week expedition to tag blue whales in New Zealand waters for the first time, almost came up empty due to warmer sea temperatures causing the animals to change their behaviour.
  • 2018 - Antarctic Voyage Update #2

    What's a Bongo net? Sadie Mills tells us all about it by phone from the Ross Sea Dependency.
  • Blog: Oceanographic drifters and CTD - 13 February

    Today was a busy day! We continue to transit southwards but we released three oceanographic drifters at 56 degrees South
  • Blog: Emergency drill - 11 February

    11 February 2018Today an emergency drill with fire hose practice and lifejacket familiarisation was run with all the crew.
  • Blog: Science safety tour - 10 February

    10 February 2018Today’s main activity was a science safety tour.
  • Blog: Emergency training - 12 February

    12 February 2018Today our emergency training activity was focused on learning how to get in and out of our immersion suits, in under 2 minutes.
  • Update from voyage leader Dave Bowden - 13 February

    13 February 2018Antarctic voyage leader Dave Bowden on the phone from the Southern Ocean.
  • 2018 - Antarctic Voyage Update #1

    TAN 1802 - Antarctic voyage leader Dave Bowden on the phone from the Southern Ocean.
  • Blog: Dolphins farewell RV Tangaroa - 9 February

    9 February 2018RV Tangaroa is farewelled by a pod of dolphins as it heads off on its 12th voyage to the white continent.