Antarctica

Latest news

It’s a colourful life under the Antarctic ice

13 January 2020

The rich diversity of marine life near Scott Base in Antarctica has stunned scientists diving under the ice to set up environmental monitoring sites.

Scientists brave winter in Antarctic waters

Media Release

14 November 2019

The New Zealand ship Janas has recently returned from a six-week winter research voyage to the Ross Sea where scientists made the first observations of developing Antarctic toothfish embryos.

Setting new baselines in the southern seas

Feature story

14 June 2019

While most New Zealanders were settling into their summer break, some scientists were double-checking their survival gear before heading to work deep in the Southern Ocean.

Scientists discover solar heat drives rapid melting of Ross Ice Shelf

Media Release

30 April 2019

Part of the world’s largest ice shelf is melting 10 times faster than the overall average and solar-heated waters beneath the ice shelf are to blame, NIWA research has found.

Our work

Climate Present and Past

Climate Present and Past is a core-funded project under NIWA's National Climate Centre. It aims to explore historical climate data and track past changes in climate through a range of approaches.

Plankton biodiversity in the Southern Ocean

NIWA is conducting a five–year study to map changes in the distribution of plankton species in surface waters between New Zealand and the Ross Sea.

Ocean acidification and warming

Acidification of the world’s oceans from rising atmospheric carbon dioxide levels reduces the availability of carbonate required by some marine organisms to build shells and skeletons, and potentially affects their ability to maintain existing structures.

Antarctic fisheries research

NIWA’s Antarctic fisheries research is allowing us to investigate possible effects of the longline Antarctic toothfish fishery on the toothfish population and on the local ecosystem.

Latest videos

2018 - Antarctic Voyage Update #3

2018 - Antarctic Voyage Update #1

TAN 1802 - Antarctic voyage leader Dave Bowden on the phone from the Southern Ocean.

Dolphins farewell RV Tangaroa - 9 February 2018

RV Tangaroa is farewelled by a pod of dolphins as it heads off on its 12th voyage to the white continent. Footage courtesy of Kareen Schnabelke.

Researching NIWA’s Antarctic sea ice

NIWA marine physics technician Brett Grant gives a tour of our Antarctic field camp and explains how we are conducting research into sea ice in the coldest place on the planet.

Ecosystem effects of fishing

Find out about the role of toothfish in the ecosystem and the potential effects of fishing.

The Ross Sea shelf survey

A survey series in the Southern Ross Sea was started in 2011 to index juvenile abundance.

Antarctic toothfish stock assessment

CCAMLR sets annual catch limits, using a stock assessment model.

The toothfish fishery

Find out more about the toothfish fishery, including its history, catch, sea ice influences and fishery operational requirements.

Toothfish life history

Find out about the biology of the Antarctic toothfish.

Management of Antarctic fisheries

Find out more about fisheries in the Southern Ocean, New Zealand's role, and fisheries management.

Antarctic fisheries research

NIWA’s Antarctic fisheries research is allowing us to investigate possible effects of the longline Antarctic toothfish fishery on the toothfish population and on the local ecosystem.

Surveying fish species on the Ross Sea slope

We don’t clearly understand the ecological effects of commerical toothfish fishing in the Ross Sea region. To improve our knowledge, we conducted a survey of demersal (bottom-dwelling) fish species on the Ross Sea slope - particularly grenadiers and icefish - during the 2015 Antarctic Ecosystems Voyage.

Researching NIWA’s Antarctic sea ice

NIWA marine physics technician Brett Grant gives a tour of our Antarctic field camp and explains how we are conducting research into sea ice in the coldest place on the planet.

ACRE Antarctica

ACRE Antarctica is a project within the Deep South National Science Challenge.

Measuring and analysing the Southern Ocean seas and atmosphere

The Southern Ocean is under-sampled. Data collected continuously during the Antarctic Ecosystems Voyagehelped fill an important knowledge gap about oceanographic and atmospheric processes in this important region.

Climate Present and Past

Climate Present and Past is a core-funded project under NIWA's National Climate Centre. It aims to explore historical climate data and track past changes in climate through a range of approaches.

Pick of the Antarctic pictures

Blog

13 March 2015

Hundreds of amazing images have come back from NIWA’s NZ-AU Antarctic Ecosystems Voyage 2015 on RV Tangaroa.

Taking the pulse of Antarctica’s ocean ecosystem

Niwa scientists have anchored an echosounder to the sea floor of Terra Nova Bay that could reveal the mystery of silverfish reproduction under the Antarctic ice.

Taking the pulse of Antarctica’s ocean ecosystem

Media Release

12 March 2015

NIWA scientists have anchored an echosounder to the sea floor of Terra Nova Bay that could reveal the mystery of silverfish reproduction under the Antarctic ice.

Antarctic Voyage - The Good Bits

Footage - mostly time lapse - from the New Zealand-Australia Antarctic Ecosystems Voyage 2015...with some random music!

Bad weather while returning from Antarctic voyage

NIWA’s RV Tangaroa encounters bad weather while returning to New Zealand from Antarctica.

New Zealand-Australia Antarctic Ecosystems Voyage highlights

Highlights of the New Zealand-Australia Antarctic Ecosystems Voyage 2015.

Antarctica research voyage achievements

Media Release

11 March 2015

Dr Richard O’Driscoll, Voyage Leader aboard RV Tangaroa for the NZ-Australia Antarctica Ecosystems Voyage 2015 says the research project accomplished all science objectives they set out to achieve.

Scientists return from successful Antarctic research voyage

Media Release

11 March 2015

NIWA deepwater research vessel Tangaroa docks in Wellington today to complete a successful six-week New Zealand-Australia Antarctic Ecosystems voyage.

Voyage leader's final update

Blog

11 March 2015

Now back on dry land, Voyage Leader Richard O'Driscoll reflects on the final days of RV Tangaroa's 2015 Antarctica expedition.

BLOG: Sir Peter Blake Trust Ambassador Blake Hornblow - leaving the polar zone

Blog

9 March 2015

Our journey is slowly coming to an end. The past five weeks has passed so quickly and I have loved every moment of it.

Little wonder - the ocean’s primary productivity

6 March 2015

At the base of the ocean’s food chain are algae. Algae feed the krill that feed the whales.

BLOG: Sir Peter Blake Trust Ambassador Zac Penman - final days

Blog

6 March 2015

Today marked the last official day of science here in the Ross Sea. The ship has now been turned north and the 8 day steam back to Wellington has begun.