Bathymetry

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NIWA unravelling impacts on marine life after Cyclone Gabrielle

3 October 2023

NIWA are studying the ocean off Tairāwhiti and Hawke’s Bay to see how Cyclone Gabrielle has impacted the health of fisheries habitats and seabed ecosystems.

Tonga eruption confirmed as largest ever recorded

Media Release

21 November 2022

A New Zealand-led team has completed the fullest investigation to date into January’s eruption of the underwater Tongan volcano.

Kaikōura earthquake provides world-first insight into submarine canyons

Feature story

17 October 2018

Research conducted after the 2016, 7.8 magnitude Kaikōura earthquake has provided scientists with an extremely rare opportunity to understand the processes that shape submarine canyons.

NZ scientists launch their part in bold project to map seafloor

Media Release

20 June 2018

New Zealand’s contribution to an ambitious international project aiming to generate a definitive map of the entire ocean floor in less than 12 years, is being launched in Wellington tomorrow.

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Hazards in the Tasman Sea

Landslides happen in the ocean just like they happen on land and this multi-disciplinary research expedition is looking at what that may mean for the waters off the Taranaki Coast.

Six large-scale slope collapse units (up to 4,000 km3) have been mapped offshore Taranaki-Waikato using 3D seismic data. However, we know very little about these complex processes, which substantially reduces reliability of hazard assessments and thus our preparedness.

Acquisition of new marine geophysical and sedimentological data is critical to address this knowledge gap and help include submarine landslide-generated tsunami in future New Zealand tsunami hazard assessments.

This project is a collaboration between NIWA, GNS, University of Auckland and University of Newcastle. For more information: https://niwa.co.nz/our-science/voyages/2022-tasman-sea-tsunami

Mapping the oceans through citizen science

Are you interested in helping map the seafloor? Small data loggers can be used to record information from the positioning (GPS) and echosounding (fish finder) systems of any type of vessel. The Seabed 2030 team can even send a technician to install the device correctly for you.

If you are in the Pacific and keen to be part of a growing community for the Crowdsourced Bathymetry Initiative, please contact: [email protected]

For more info, visit seabed2030.org/crowd-sourced-bathymetry.

Dr Yoann Ladroit, Whakaari TAN2007 Voyage

Can sound be used to characterise gas composition in the water column?

NIWA Marine Acoustician Dr Yoann Ladroit uses multi-beam echo sounders to map the bathymetry around Whakaari/White Island very quickly and with pinpoint precision.

Yoann is also leading research into using acoustics to find underwater gas bubble flares and then compare these to the chemical composition of water samples taken at the same locations.

Shifting Sands

Dr Joshu Mountjoy discusses NIWA's work in assessing the tsunami hazard just south of Kaikoura.

Find out more about this research.

NIWA diverts ship to earthquake areas

Media Release

18 November 2016

NIWA’s flagship research vessel Tangaroa has been diverted to survey the seabed in areas affected by Monday’s earthquake.

NIWA completes first bathymetric mapping of Lake Tekapo

Media Release

17 March 2016

NIWA researchers have spent part of the last month keeping a close eye on the bottom of Lake Tekapo to find out what it looks like and what is going on below the lake bed.

Backscatter Measurement Guidelines

Marine scientists have long recognized the potential of using remotely-sensed data, most often acquired using a sonar system, as a proxy of biophysical indicators.

Voyage leader's final update

Blog

11 March 2015

Now back on dry land, Voyage Leader Richard O'Driscoll reflects on the final days of RV Tangaroa's 2015 Antarctica expedition.

Rare fish and new seafloor habitats found during NIWA survey of coastal East Northland

16 July 2014

NIWA scientists surveying shallow water coastal habitats off the east coast of Northland have found a rich diversity of macroalgal meadows, shellfish beds, sponges, and rare fish species.

Coromandel

Biodiversity images.

Shifting Sands

Dr Joshu Mountjoy discusses NIWA's work in assessing the tsunami hazard just south of Kaikoura.

Find out more about this research.

In brief: New climate study to map our future

A new $7.2 million research project is about to look into New Zealand's future in a changing climate.

How prepared are we for a major marine earthquake?

14 November 2012

This week, New Zealand's leading coastal scientists, engineers and planners are attending the New Zealand Coastal Society 20th Annual Conference in Auckland. At the conference, NIWA's Dr Philip Barnes will explore the question of how well do we know New Zealand's submarine earthquake hazards.

First sighting of volcano responsible for undersea eruption

29 October 2012

New Zealand scientists are investigating active undersea volcanos, north of New Zealand. New images reveal the impacts of a significant eruption on the seafloor.

NIWA survey reveals deep water canyons off Otago coast

23 August 2012

NIWA's has mapped the seabed off the coast of Otago, revealing the structure of nine canyons in the Great South Basin. This survey is providing new information about geological processes in the region as well as clues to what types of life might exist on the seafloor.

NIWA seafloor mapping of Auckland’s doorstep

20 August 2012

NIWA's research vessel Tangaroa will set sail from Wellington on 21 August to map the seabed in the mid-to-outer Greater Hauraki Gulf, including the coast off Coromandel.

Tangaroa sets sail to map the seabed off Otago

3 July 2012

New Zealand's research vessel Tangaroa set sail from Wellington on Saturday to map the seabed off the coast of Otago. The survey area includes the Canterbury and Great South Basins.

Echo, Echo: Scanning the Seafloor on R.V. Tangaroa

NIWA ocean geologist Dr Joshu Mountjoy explains how the R.V. Tangaroa's multibeam system is used for bathymetric (seabed) mapping, and some of the benefits which come out of this mapping.

Seabed Frontier: A Brief History of Bathymetry

NIWA marine geologist John Mitchell gives a brief history of bathymetric (seabed) charting, and how it's been carried out over the last few hundred years. (01:18)

Coasts Update 04, January 2012

Welcome to this special edition of Coasts Update, highlighting the Shallow Survey 2012.

Coasts Update 03, April 2011

Welcome to the latest edition of Coasts Update. Here we bring you news of some of NIWA's latest research on aspects of coastal ecology, and the possible impacts of climate change on one of our coastal communities.

NIWA Scientists set to survey Pegasus Bay with seismic equipment

16 March 2011

NIWA’s research vessel Kaharoa set sail from Wellington today, destined for Lyttelton and equipped with seismic survey gear to survey an area of southern Pegasus Bay.

Upgraded research vessel

Feature story

12 December 2010

The return of the upgraded RV Tangaroa represents a huge advancement for New Zealand science and exploration

NIWA today welcomed home RV Tangaroa, New Zealand’s only deepwater research vessel, after a $20 million dollar upgrade to enhance its ocean science and survey capabilities.

Bay of Islands Coastal Survey complete

The Bay of Islands coast is under increasing pressure from human activities, both land-based and marine. As part of the government’s Ocean Survey 20/20 programme, Land Information New Zealand (LINZ) commissioned NIWA to carry out a comprehensive survey of the region’s seafloor habitats and biodiversity.

New Zealand’s deep-sea research boosted by new partnership

4 February 2010

Two New Zealand research organisations will work closely with one of the world’s leading ocean research and engineering organisations to accelerate research and exploration in a wide range of oceanographic topics in the southwest Pacific region.

New posters reveal dynamic seafloor

Three new posters reveal the seafloor of the Cook Strait and Wellington Harbour in high resolution detail for the first time. These posters are the product of recent sophisticated seafloor mapping combined with expert marine geological knowledge acquired over decades. They are the culmination of an exceptional collaborative effort among NIWA researchers.

NIWA reveals seabed treasures

15 September 2009

Three new posters of the Cook Strait and Wellington Harbour seabed reveal for the first time a treasure trove of detailed information for the benefit of all New Zealanders.

Bathymetry

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