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

Atmosphere

World class research contributing to our understanding of greenhouse gases, ozone depletion, and urban air pollution.

  • Air Action: enabling householders and building managers to trial air quality solutions

    Air Action

    Enabling householders and building managers to trial air quality solutions
  • Colin Anderson - Volunteer air watcher from Invercargill

    Air Watch

    Empowering the public to monitor air quality
  • 2020_08_MASTERTON_AIR_QUALITY_beamish_5063-web

    Air Aware: Learning experiences to build awareness about air quality

    Learning experiences to build awareness about air quality
  • Early and long-lasting ozone hole, forecasts NIWA

    Media release
    The Antarctic ozone hole typically reaches its greatest extent in September or October and disappears in November or December.
  • Dobson ozone spectrophotometer dome. Measures total column Ozone.

    Atmosphere FAQ

    Atmosphere frequently asked questions
  • Rangiora cattle

    Climate change and agriculture

    Education Resource
    Helping you understand the science of climate change. The things we can do to combat climate change, individually, and alongside our whānau, school and community, can and will make a difference.
  • Air quality project with Alexandra primary school

    Air quality in Arrowtown - 2019 Arrowtown School project

    NIWA worked with Year 8 students at Arrowtown School to analyse, visualise and communicate air quality data.
  • Arrowtown, NZ

    Air quality in Arrowtown - 2019 results

    Read a summary of results and download our full report on 2019 outdoor air quality.
  • Baring Head

    Greenhouse gas analyses

    NIWA has been using advanced scientific instruments to measure atmospheric trace gases and isotopes for over 30 years.
  • Counting carbon – NZ contributes to global CO2 stocktake

    Media release
    New Zealand researchers have contributed to the first ever stocktake of global greenhouse gas emissions.
  • Research aims to quantify New Zealand’s Blue Carbon capacity of kelp seaweeds

    Media release
    A research project co-led by Blue Carbon Services and NIWA will aim to provide New Zealand’s first national estimate of natural kelp-carbon sequestration in the marine environment.
  • UV map of New Zealand for 21 Oct 2022

    High UV prompts SunSmart warnings

    Media release
    Ultraviolet (UV) radiation levels are averaging higher in 2022 compared to 2021, atmospheric scientists are warning.