28 May 2015
A climate scientist at NIWA’s Lauder Station research centre in Central Otago has stumbled across the oldest known mid-infrared spectra – scientific readings taken 30 years ago on 29 May 1985.
Atmospheric technician Dan Smale rediscovered the data while archiving and updating historical archives at the high-country observatory.
World-class atmospheric data is collected and analysed at Lauder Station to add to knowledge about global climate change.
Explaining the relevance of the find, Mr Smale says: "By measuring the sunlight-absorbing molecules in the atmosphere, we can see changes over time in the ozone layer and in ozone-destroying substances."
