Atmospheric analysis

Useful drought links and information from NIWA and MPI

Dr Katja Riedel and Dr Hinrich Schaefer discuss how NIWA's ice coring work on Taylor Glacier in Antarctica is allowing us to find out about the Earth's atmosphere in the distant past.

Much of NIWA's science uses an instrument known as a mass spectrometer. But what is a mass spectrometer, and how to they work?

Farms rely on, and affect, the rivers, streams and estuaries around them. We provide resource management, research and technology services to help you optimise your water use and minimise environmental impacts.

Many of our services are of significant value to the primary sector. They include climate data and statistics, derived information, land use guidance, outlooks,  tools and Advice and information on adapting to regional climate.

NIWA delivers high quality data which we can tailor to you and your farm's needs. We build custom instruments, manage data from them and deliver a range of products via web and mobile tools to help you make the best business decisions.

Nitrous oxide (N2O), commonly known as laughing gas, is an important greenhouse gas. Naturally produced by bacteria in soils and oceans, agriculture is the main source of human-produced nitrous oxide.

There is a marked seasonal cycle in surface ozone (O3), with a maximum in winter and minimum in summer. There can also be significant variability from day to day caused by synoptic scale meteorological variations.

Carbon monoxide (CO) plays a key role in atmospheric chemistry because it is the largest sink for hydroxyl radical (OH). OH is often called the 'detergent' of the atmosphere because it destroys many harmful pollutants.