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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    Side aerial shot of Lauder Atmospheric Research Station on a bright sunny day

    Lauder Atmospheric Research Station

    Facility
    NIWA's Atmospheric Research Station at Lauder in Central Otago specialises in measuring CFCs, ozone, UV levels and greenhouse gases and has a wide range of world-class instruments and research scientists.
    Greenhouse and trace gases
    UV and ozone

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    Baring Head Research station and lighthouse on a sunny day

    Baring Head Atmospheric Research Station

    Facility
    The Baring Head station, which overlooks Cook Strait, has been operating since 1972 and the data collected there makes significant contributions to our global understanding of greenhouse gases.
    Greenhouse and trace gases

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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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    Baring Head Research station and lighthouse on a sunny day

    Greenhouse and trace gases

    NIWA carries out world-class research that contributes to our understanding of greenhouse gases, including emissions and uptake across cities, forests, farms and oceans.
    Greenhouse and trace gases

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    Side aerial shot of Lauder Atmospheric Research Station on a bright sunny day

    Atmospheric analysis

    NIWA has been using advanced scientific instruments to measure atmospheric trace gases and isotopes for over 50 years.