Fear of flying into Wellington
NIWA's scientists say that a westerly in spring is the worst time to fly into Wellington.
Water & Atmosphere 9, December 2013
16 December 2013
The December 2013 edition of NIWA's flagship publication, Water & Atmosphere.
A PDF copy is also available, and can be downloaded by clicking on the link below.
Secret life of seaweed
Seaweed is being found growing deeper than thought possible, casting new light on the under-researched algae.
In brief: Scooping up discoveries
A Kiwi-Japanese collaboration has taken a group of NIWA scientists to the Louisville Seamount Chain to study marine organisms living in a unique environment.
In brief: Antarctica season starts
As the crucial weather window opened in Antarctica in spring, more than a dozen NIWA scientists were heading down for research above, on and under the ice.
In brief: Getting air
Auckland Council's ambition to make the city the most liveable in the world is being helped by a study into air quality and noise pollution on one of the country's busiest streets.
In brief: Close up on critters
An online electron microscope is the newest addition to the tools used by NIWA's real-time identification service to identify marine biosecurity risks to New Zealand.
In brief: Future earthquakes on the West Coast
A two-year mapping project by NIWA for the West Coast Regional Council to assess seismic hazards in its coastal communities has found fault lines capable of causing earthquakes up to magnitude 7.8.
In brief: Science future more than fair
The future of New Zealand science is promising, judging by the calibre of Year 7–13 students solving real-world problems at the NIWA Science and Technology Fairs this year.
In brief: Restoring river islands
A joint NIWA and Waikato-Tainui project to restore the Waikato River's Maurea Islands is under way, with the recent completion of an illustrated identification guide of species inhabiting the islands and a restoration plan.
In brief: Humans influence extreme weather
NIWA scientists contributed to a global report that found humans are having an impact on extreme weather and climate events.
In brief: Learning about lakes
To mark Conservation Week, Hamilton Zoo hosted local Waikato school students at Waiwhakareke Natural Heritage Park.
In brief: A French connection
Betty Gubri's chance email to NIWA Marine Ecologist Dr Carolyn Lundquist saw the French student gain a highly sought-after work placement opportunity – and relocate to New Zealand for it.
In brief: Warmest winter on record
If you thought winter wasn't quite so chilly this year, you'd be right. New Zealand experienced its warmest winter on record. Winter 2013 was 0.3°C warmer than the previous record holder, winter 1984.
Counting fish
Recreational fishing is so good in New Zealand that around 600,000 Kiwis regularly have a reel in their hand. Susan Pepperell discovers how technology is helping those who fish and those who count the fish.
Field intelligence
New Zealand's farmers face complex – occasionally formidable – challenges in their quest for a productive and sustainable operation. Colin Barkus discovers how science and technology are helping to even the odds.
Making connections
The raw stuff of science is data. NIWA collects lots of it. Mark Blackham explores how science is being improved by connecting data across NIWA and to the outside world.
Eighties climate revival
NIWA has updated the famous regional climate 'blue books' from the '80s – the era that brought us floppy fringes and leg warmers.
Photo competition 2013
A photograph of two moray eels sharing an underwater crevice has taken out the judges' choice award at NIWA's annual photograph competition.
Profile: Mission perspective
Dave Allen dislikes dull photography almost as much as dull furniture. NIWA's official photographer is the sort of man who is driven to re-style a 1950s coffee table using an old Tip Top sign from a dairy as the tabletop.
Q&A: Where did the wind come from?
We asked NIWA's weather gurus the questions on everyone's lips this spring: what's with the wind and droughts?
W&A cover, December 2013. [NIWA]
Granity, West Coast. Looking south towards Westport. Photograph by Dave Allen on 1 October 2013. [NIWA]