Bathymetry

Latest news

Large freshwater find off Canterbury coast

Media Release
13 March 2020
Scientists have discovered an extensive body of freshwater off the Canterbury coast between Timaru and Ashburton.

Seabed mapping in Marlborough uncovers 10 shipwrecks

31 August 2018
The most detailed seafloor mapping of a coastal region off New Zealand has been completed in Marlborough.

New discoveries on Marlborough seafloor

Media Release
28 August 2018
The findings of the most complex underwater coastal survey of the seafloor undertaken in New Zealand, including previously undiscovered natural features and sunken boats, are to be formally presented to the Marlborough community tomorrow.

NZ scientists launch their part in bold project to map seafloor

Media Release
20 June 2018
New Zealand’s contribution to an ambitious international project aiming to generate a definitive map of the entire ocean floor in less than 12 years, is being launched in Wellington tomorrow.
 

Our work

Seabed 2030

NIWA is leading a New Zealand partnership to map the South and West Pacific Ocean's seabed as part of a worldwide initiative to map the entire globe’s seafloor.

Backscatter Measurement Guidelines

Marine scientists have long recognized the potential of using remotely-sensed data, most often acquired using a sonar system, as a proxy of biophysical indicators.

Oceans 20/20

The Ocean Survey 20/20 (OS 20/20) programme is a Government initiative, which aims to provide New Zealand with better knowledge of its ocean territory, including New Zealand's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), Continental Shelf and the Ross Sea Region.

 

Latest videos

Dr Yoann Ladroit, Whakaari TAN2007 Voyage

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.
Shifting Sands - Tsunami hazard off Kaikoura, NZ

Shifting Sands

Dr Joshu Mountjoy discusses NIWA's work in assessing the tsunami hazard just south of Kaikoura. 

Find out more about this research. 

Echo, Echo: Scanning the Seafloor on R.V. Tangaroa

Echo, Echo: Scanning the Seafloor on R.V. Tangaroa

NIWA ocean geologist Dr Joshu Mountjoy explains how the R.V. Tangaroa's multibeam system is used for bathymetric (seabed) mapping, and some of the benefits which come out of this mapping.

Seabed Frontier: A Brief History of Bathymetry

Seabed Frontier: A Brief History of Bathymetry

NIWA marine geologist John Mitchell gives a brief history of bathymetric (seabed) charting, and how it's been carried out over the last few hundred years. (01:18) 

 
Dr Yoann Ladroit, Whakaari TAN2007 Voyage

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.

2020 - Bay of Plenty acoustics

During the TAN2007 voyage NIWA scientists headed 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 surveyed the chemical composition of gases released by the hydrothermal vents on what is known as the Calypso vent field in the Bay of Plenty.

Large freshwater find off Canterbury coast

Media Release
13 March 2020
Scientists have discovered an extensive body of freshwater off the Canterbury coast between Timaru and Ashburton.

Seabed 2030

NIWA is leading a New Zealand partnership to map the South and West Pacific Ocean's seabed as part of a worldwide initiative to map the entire globe’s seafloor.

Seabed mapping in Marlborough uncovers 10 shipwrecks

31 August 2018
The most detailed seafloor mapping of a coastal region off New Zealand has been completed in Marlborough.

New discoveries on Marlborough seafloor

Media Release
28 August 2018
The findings of the most complex underwater coastal survey of the seafloor undertaken in New Zealand, including previously undiscovered natural features and sunken boats, are to be formally presented to the Marlborough community tomorrow.

NZ scientists launch their part in bold project to map seafloor

Media Release
20 June 2018
New Zealand’s contribution to an ambitious international project aiming to generate a definitive map of the entire ocean floor in less than 12 years, is being launched in Wellington tomorrow.

New Zealand joins global seabed mapping initiative

9 June 2017

New Zealand joins global seabed mapping initiative

Massive mudslides in Kaikōura Canyon destroy seabed life

Media Release
27 February 2017

Huge mudslides from November’s earthquakes have wiped out all organisms living in the seabed of the Kaikōura Canyon.

NIWA diverts ship to earthquake areas

Media Release
18 November 2016
NIWA’s flagship research vessel Tangaroa has been diverted to survey the seabed in areas affected by Monday’s earthquake.

NIWA completes first bathymetric mapping of Lake Tekapo

Media Release
17 March 2016
NIWA researchers have spent part of the last month keeping a close eye on the bottom of Lake Tekapo to find out what it looks like and what is going on below the lake bed.

Backscatter Measurement Guidelines

Marine scientists have long recognized the potential of using remotely-sensed data, most often acquired using a sonar system, as a proxy of biophysical indicators.

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.

Rare fish and new seafloor habitats found during NIWA survey of coastal East Northland

16 July 2014
NIWA scientists surveying shallow water coastal habitats off the east coast of Northland have found a rich diversity of macroalgal meadows, shellfish beds, sponges, and rare fish species.

Coromandel

Biodiversity images.

Shifting Sands - Tsunami hazard off Kaikoura, NZ

Shifting Sands

Dr Joshu Mountjoy discusses NIWA's work in assessing the tsunami hazard just south of Kaikoura. 

Find out more about this research. 

How prepared are we for a major marine earthquake?

14 November 2012

This week, New Zealand's leading coastal scientists, engineers and planners are attending the New Zealand Coastal Society 20th Annual Conference in Auckland. At the conference, NIWA's Dr Philip Barnes will explore the question of how well do we know New Zealand's submarine earthquake hazards.

First sighting of volcano responsible for undersea eruption

29 October 2012

New Zealand scientists are investigating active undersea volcanos, north of New Zealand. New images reveal the impacts of a significant eruption on the seafloor.

Oceans 20/20

The Ocean Survey 20/20 (OS 20/20) programme is a Government initiative, which aims to provide New Zealand with better knowledge of its ocean territory, including New Zealand's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), Continental Shelf and the Ross Sea Region.

NIWA survey reveals deep water canyons off Otago coast

23 August 2012

NIWA's has mapped the seabed off the coast of Otago, revealing the structure of nine canyons in the Great South Basin. This survey is providing new information about geological processes in the region as well as clues to what types of life might exist on the seafloor. 

NIWA seafloor mapping of Auckland’s doorstep

20 August 2012

NIWA's research vessel Tangaroa will set sail from Wellington on 21 August to map the seabed in the mid-to-outer Greater Hauraki Gulf, including the coast off Coromandel.

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All staff working on this subject

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Dr Philip Barnes

Principal Scientist - Marine Geology
Email Dr Philip Barnes

Dr Rob Bell

Principal Scientist - Coastal and Estuarine Physical Processes
Email Dr Rob Bell
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Dr Cyprien Bosserelle

Hydrodynamics Modeller
Email Dr Cyprien Bosserelle

Dr Yoann Ladroit

Fisheries Acoustics Scientist
Email Dr Yoann Ladroit

Dr Joshu Mountjoy

Marine Geologist
Email Dr Joshu Mountjoy

Arne Pallentin

Principal Technician - Marine Geology
Email Arne Pallentin

Sally Watson

Marine Geophysicist
Email Sally Watson
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