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Research

Funded by the Ministry of Health, NIWA air quality researchers are carrying out research to understand ventilation behaviour and examine how well spaces used by our most vulnerable populations are, and could be, ventilated.
Almost half of Aotearoa New Zealand’s CO2-equivalent greenhouse gas emissions come from agriculture. This is a much higher proportion than most other countries – globally, agricultural emissions average around 7.5% of a country’s total emissions.
Community Air Watch Arrowtown enables members of the public to use new technologies to participate in studies of air quality.
Schools Air Watch enables school classes to use new technologies to participate in a study of air quality in their own community.
Community Air Watch Invercargill enables members of the public to use new technologies to participate in studies of air quality.
Air quality is almost never consistent across NZ’s towns – polluted air can readily be transported on the breeze and accumulate in different locations.
Community Air is a family of research studies, community projects and commercial services that empower local communities to engage with, assess and tackle local air quality issues.
Animations showing wind conditions and air quality over 24-hour periods across study towns during winter 2021 and 2020.

Methane (CH4) is the second most important greenhouse gas after CO2 that is produced by human activities. While most of the anthropogenic emissions of CO2 are from industrial processes, most anthropogenic CH4 emissions are from agriculture.

The current method for calculating wind speed-up is inadequate, and can grossly under-predict correct design wind speeds in NZ's complex terrain.
CFCs have damaged the ozone layer and led to higher UV levels and increased health risks. Our role is to understand the causes and effects of ozone depletion, to inform the public of the risk.
Ocean acidification conditions around the New Zealand coast are being measured to establish baseline conditions and to quantify future change.

Nitrous oxide (N2O), commonly known as laughing gas, is an important greenhouse gas. Naturally produced by bacteria in soils and oceans, agriculture is the main source of human-produced nitrous oxide.

There is a marked seasonal cycle in surface ozone (O3), with a maximum in winter and minimum in summer. There can also be significant variability from day to day caused by synoptic scale meteorological variations.

How do marine micro-organisms influence the earth's atmosphere and climate?

This research project focusses on modelling atmospheric chemistry and climate from the surface to the top of the stratosphere, using sophisticated chemistry-climate models.

NIWA participates in the Total Carbon Column Observing Network, a ground-based observing network dedicated to making precise and accurate measurements of greenhouse gas concentrations in different parts of the atmosphere.
This research aims to provide better predictions of changes in the ocean and climate system, particularly the way in which the ocean around New Zealand regulates greenhouse gases and clouds.

By analysing air trapped in ancient ice we can see how wetlands and permafrosts responded to warming periods in the past, and help predict what will happen in the future.