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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    coastal ecosystem Gabrielle

    Responding to and preparing for extreme weather events

    Research Project
    NIWA-led research
    Air quality
    Hazards
    Weather hazards

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    Rainbow Mountain banner

    CarbonWatch NZ

    CarbonWatch NZ is an internationally-recognised research programme that will enable New Zealand to make the right decisions for a zero carbon future.
    Atmosphere
    Greenhouse and trace gases
    Climate change

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    MethaneSAT Mission

    MethaneSAT

    Research Project
    Detecting and quantifying methane emissions by satellite
    Atmosphere
    Greenhouse and trace gases
    Climate change

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    Reducing COVID-19 transmission through increased ventilation

    Research Project
    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.
    Air quality

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    Community air: Air quality issues in NZ towns

    Research Project
    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.
    Air quality

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    Auckland motorway

    Traffic emissions mapping - black carbon and nitrogen dioxide

    Research Project
    Black carbon, commonly known as soot, is made of microscopic particles generated by incomplete combustion. Download our latest maps of long-term average concentrations of black carbon from road traffic. Equivalent maps for nitrogen dioxide (NO2) are coming soon.
    Air quality

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    Total Carbon Column Observing Network

    Research Project
    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.
    Greenhouse and trace gases

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    Drone measuring methane in atmosphere

    Accurate quantification of methane emissions from waste and agriculture

    Research Project
    NIWA researchers are testing new methods for quantifying methane emissions from agriculture and waste.
    Greenhouse and trace gases

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    Quantifying and reducing agricultural emissions of greenhouse gases

    Research Project
    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.
    Agriculture
    Greenhouse and trace gases
    Climate change

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    Community Air Watch Arrowtown

    Research Project
    Community Air Watch Arrowtown enables members of the public to use new technologies to participate in studies of air quality.
    Air quality

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    Schools Air Watch

    Research Project
    Schools Air Watch enables school classes to use new technologies to participate in a study of air quality in their own community.
    Air quality

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    Community Air Watch Invercargill

    Research Project
    Community Air Watch Invercargill enables members of the public to use new technologies to participate in studies of air quality.
    Air quality