Atmosphere

World class research contributing to our understanding of greenhouse gases, ozone depletion, and urban air pollution.

MethaneSAT

Detecting and quantifying methane emissions by satellite. The core mission of this unique satellite is to support reductions in methane emissions around the world, primarily by reducing leaks from oil and gas production. NIWA's Dr Sara Mikaloff Fletcher is leading a science programme to develop capability to map agricultural emissions and determine the best places for the satellite to look for methane emissions around the world.

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Atmosphere

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    Carbon dioxide

    Facility
    Atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) is measured continuously at Baring Head, providing the longest running record of this type in the Southern hemisphere.
    Greenhouse and trace gases

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    Reports

    Reports produced by NIWA’s air quality research.

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    Injy’s Odyssey

    Late 2016, Sir Peter Blake NIWA Ambassador Injy Johnstone travelled to one of NIWA's more remote atmospheric monitoring outposts in the central North Island. Another successful ambassadorship - check it out!
    Air quality

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    Summer Series week 2: Scientists set up offices in the great outdoors

    Media release
    26 December 2016
    Summer is for scientific fieldwork. Three NIWA scientists are heading into the wild blue yonder, some with fancy technology and others with a coffee cup and a bag of party balloons.
    Atmosphere

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    Rangiora: NIWA needs your help

    Media release
    19 August 2016
    Rangiora residents willing to contribute to a community project about the quality of air in their town are being sought by NIWA scientists to help with their research.

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    Flying laboratory going low over Lauder

    Media release
    05 August 2016
    NIWA atmospheric scientists in Central Otago are turning plane spotters next week as they eagerly await the flyover of a NASA research plane.
    Atmosphere

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    Wood smoke draws researchers to New Zealand

    News article
    12 July 2016
    The burning question of winter is attracting international air quality scientists to Wellington later this month to design a large scale joint research programme.

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    New funding for Deep South National Science Challenge

    Media release
    30 June 2016
    The Deep South National Science Challenge today announced new funding for seven new scientific research projects to help New Zealanders better understand their future climate.
    Climate change

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    Warmest start to the year on record

    Media release
    28 June 2016
    The first six months of 2016 are set to be the warmest ever start to the year, according to NIWA’s long-term seven-station temperature series.

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    Community Observation Networks for Air – Rangiora 2015 pilot study

    Rangiora 2015 was the first Community Observation Networks for Air (CONA) study. CONA is a NIWA initiative to explore how new technologies can greatly increase our ability to monitor, understand and manage community air quality.

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    What is greenhouse gas and how is it measured?

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    Scientists attribute rising methane levels to agriculture

    Media release
    11 March 2016
    A breakthrough in understanding about the causes of climate change has today been published online in the prestigious international journal Science.
    Agriculture
    Greenhouse and trace gases