NIWA

Bathymetry

Latest news

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

Our work

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

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

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

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)

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

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 reports and data

A list of current voyage reports in downloadable formats.

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.

Geosciences 2013

24 November 2013 to 27 November 2013

NIWA is sponsoring Geosciences 2013.

Shifting Sands

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

Find out more about this research.

Aquatic Science at the interface

19 August 2013 to 23 August 2013

NIWA is sponsoring Aquatic Science at the interface, a joint conference for the:

New Zealand Freshwater Sciences Society

New Zealand Marine Sciences Society

Australian Society for Fish Biology

The conference is being held in Hamilton, for more information see the Aquatic science at the interface website

In brief: New climate study to map our future

A new $7.2 million research project is about to look into New Zealand's future in a changing climate.

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

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.