Water & Atmosphere 22, June 2019

The June 2019 edition of NIWA's flagship publication, Water & Atmosphere.

One of 23 helicopters battling to control the flames sweeping through tinder-dry forests in Pigeon Valley, near Nelson, in February. The region went 71 days without significant rain. [Photo: Ned Dawson]

This edition of Water & Atmosphere is also available as a PDF document: Water & Atmosphere 22, June 2019 [PDF 3.6MB] and as a digital Issuu edition: Water & Atmosphere 22, June 2019.

 

In this issue:

New Zealanders are fast becoming aware that our changing climate matters a great deal. NIWA Chief Executive John Morgan explains.
NIWA is bringing together decision makers and influencers from across New Zealand this month to shape the science we need to respond to our changing climate.
Demands for new weather and climate predictions are unprecedented as nations struggle to understand their exposure to risk from severe climatic events.
Susan Pepperell reports on a region trying to cope with a changing climate
A science-fiction fan, amateur actor, and eternal optimist, is now NIWA’s Chief Scientist for Climate, Atmosphere and Hazards. Susan Pepperell finds out more.
Dr Sara Mikaloff-Fletcher is looking to turn the internationally accepted science of monitoring greenhouse gas emissions upside down—and the rest of the world is watching closely.

The on-going rise of atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) that is fuelling climate change is also driving significant changes in the waters off our coasts.

At the bottom of our lakes are NIWA divers with waterproof clipboards. Sarah Fraser jumps in to find out what they’re doing.
While most New Zealanders were settling into their summer break, some scientists were double-checking their survival gear before heading to work deep in the Southern Ocean.
Taonga species such as tuna (freshwater eels), kōura (freshwater crayfish) and kākahi (freshwater mussels) are central to the identity and wellbeing of many Māori.
When fire came to Pigeon Valley, Fire and Emergency came to NIWA.