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Bay of Plenty acoustic and chemical sampling - July 2020

During the TAN2007 voyage NIWA scientists are heading to the waters around Whakaari/White Island in the Bay of Plenty to survey changes to the seafloor since the volcanic eruption in December 2019. They will also survey the chemical composition of gases released by the hydrothermal vents on what is known as the Calypso vent field in the Bay of Plenty.

The voyage commences 22 July and ends 30 July 2020.

Map of the course of RV Tangaroa taken during the TAN2007 voyage. Select anywhere on the red track to see position details and time as well as other vessel information. N.B. Dates and times are in UTC. New Zealand Standard Time (NZST) is 12 hours ahead of Coordinated Universal Time (UTC).

Can sound be used to characterise gas composition in the water column?

Marine Acoustician Dr Yoann Ladroit is leading research into using acoustics to find underwater gas bubble flares and then compare these to the chemical composition of water samples taken at the same locations.

A flair for finding gas bubble flares

NIWA marine geologist Arne Pallentin is looking for telltale gas bubble 'flares"—using a multi-beam echo sounder—that indicate new volcanic activity in the Calypso Vent Field.

What's in the water around Whakaari/White Island?

Measuring chlorophyll, organic nitrogen and carbon levels, PhD student Alex Hayward looks at how much marine life is in the water around the Bay of Plenty during winter.

Dr Kura Paul-Burke returns to Whakaari

"For us, Whakaari is our whaea, she is our tupuna, and also a place of our mahinga kai. I didn't realise how much I'd missed her..."

What's in a bubble?

Marine Geophysicist Sally Watson, maps the seafloor and takes samples from the water column so we can understand geological processes shaping the volcanic underwater realm around Whakaari/White Island.

Using sound to see what's happening geologically.

Marine geologist - Dr Joshu Mountjoy - is mapping the seafloor landscape around Whakaari/White Island to understand how much sediment was dislodged in the eruption and where it has gone.

A special day on RV Tangaroa

It's a special day on RV Tangaroa today - celebrating the Whakatāne High School ball with student Cameron Phillips, one of two Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Awa taiohi on board.

Evan Solly - the last voyage

For one last time, Evan Solly starts the engines of NIWA’s research vessel Tangaroa and guides her out of Wellington.

NIWA mapping seafloor around Whakaari/White Island

16 July 2020
NIWA scientists are heading to the waters around Whakaari/White Island in the Bay of Plenty next week to survey changes to the seafloor.