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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Atmosphere

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Facilities & measurement

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    High Performance Computing Facility

    The High Performance Computing Facility (HPCF) is supercharging New Zealand science—powering scientists working at the forefront of New Zealand’s greatest science challenges.
    Coasts
    Oceans

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    Methane

    Facility
    Methane (CH4) is the second most important greenhouse gas after CO2 that is produced by human activities.
    Greenhouse and trace gases

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    Common climate and weather terms

    Education Resource
    A glossary of common climate change and meteorological terms.
    Extreme weather

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    Estimating design wind speeds in complex terrain

    Research Project
    The current method for calculating wind speed-up is inadequate, and can grossly under-predict correct design wind speeds in NZ's complex terrain.
    Atmosphere
    Hazards

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    Climate and weather

    Information about climate and weather and links to climate-related websites.
    Climate data
    Extreme weather

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    Weather app screenshots

    UVI smartphone apps

    Several apps that provide forecasts of the UV index (UVI) are available for smartphones. 
    UV and ozone

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    Common hydrological terms

    Education Resource
    Descriptions of the common terms that explain the processes that occur in hydrology.
    River flow forecasting

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    Air quality monitoring with low-cost sensors

    Service
    NIWA provides ambient air quality monitoring services using low-cost ODIN (Outdoor Dust Information Node) sensors.
    Air quality

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    All-sky - Lauder

    All-Sky images

    The all-sky image shows a hemispheric view of the sky at Lauder.

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    Layers of the atmosphere

    Education Resource
    The atmosphere is comprised of layers based on temperature. These layers are the troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere and thermosphere.
    Atmosphere

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    Tonga volcano “afterglow” causes dazzling skies in Antarctica

    Media release
    06 June 2017
    Antarctica is experiencing stunning skyscapes like those recently seen in New Zealand, thanks to the afterglow effect from the Tongan volcano.
    Antarctica
    Atmosphere
    Climate and weather

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    Lauder Atmospheric Research Station

    UVI forecast for Specific Sites

    Check out UV index forecasts for locations in New Zealand (including ski fields), Australia, the Pacific and Antarctica.
    UV and ozone
    Weather forecasting