Atmosphere

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

MethaneSAT

Detecting and quantifying methane emissions by satellite. The core mission of this unique satellite is to support reductions in methane emissions around the world, primarily by reducing leaks from oil and gas production. NIWA's Dr Sara Mikaloff Fletcher is leading a science programme to develop capability to map agricultural emissions and determine the best places for the satellite to look for methane emissions around the world.

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    Monitoring air quality in your neighbourhood

    Air quality

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    Profile: Wills Dobson - small town, huge horizons

    Feature story
    05 October 2017
    If it wasn't for a damaged shoulder, Wills Dobson wouldn't be launching weather balloons or fixing high-precision atmospheric measuring instruments.
    Air quality
    Atmosphere

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    Tiny air bubbles reveal new information about greenhouse gas emissions

    Media release
    24 August 2017
    Sitting at the surface of Taylor Glacier in Antarctica, are layers of ice more than 10,000 years old. And trapped inside those layers are bubbles of ancient air – like tiny time capsules - able to tell scientists a story about what the world used to be like and how humans have changed it.
    Atmosphere
    Climate change

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    What do 'carbon neutral' and 'carbon footprint' mean?

    A carbon neutral activity is one that has a carbon footprint of zero.

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    UV Index at Leigh - 16 October 2023

    Yesterday's UV Index

    Plots of UV levels throughout the day at different locations.
    UV and ozone

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    What are greenhouse gases?

    Greenhouse gases are atmospheric gases that intercept long-wave (mainly infrared) radiation emitted from the Earth's surface.

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    Front and rear views of a Mark I dosimeter badge. [NIWA]

    Personal UV Dosimeters

    NIWA has developed personal UV dosimeter badges to support studies relating UV exposure to human health.
    UV and ozone
    Calibration

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    What are ppm and ppb?

    PPM and PPB are units used in atmospheric chemistry to describe the concentration of gases.

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    NOAA Satellite data

    Like the GMS satellite, the NOAA Series of polar orbiting satellites (operated by NOAA, the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) are a component of the World Weather Watch meteorological satellite network.
    Atmosphere

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    UV Atlas

    More information about NIWA's UV Atlas
    UV and ozone
    Climate data

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    How can carbon emissions be weighed?

    The mass of carbon emissions can easily be calculated.

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    UVI at Lauder

    Real-time UV Index displays

    NIWA has developed a real time UV display in consultation with the Cancer Society and Sunsmart. The first prototype is currently installed at the new Molyneux Aquatic centre in Alexandra.
    UV and ozone