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ClimateExplorer now online
ClimateExplorer is NIWA’s new online storefront for products based on climate data. The map interface makes it easy to zoom into your area of interest, select products from an extensive menu, add the items to a shopping basket, and make your purchase quickly and simply, either by credit card or through an annual subscription.
Examples of the climate products available include maps of:
- long-term median wind speed
- percent of normal rainfall during an El Niño
- climate change scenarios of rainfall and temperature
- 100-year average recurrence interval for 24-hour rainfall totals
- last 15 days' rainfall and temperature.
At the climate-station level, you'll see regularly updated plots of:
- rainfall accumulation
- average temperature
- water balance
- solar radiation
- soil moisture.
You'll also find 15-day forecasts of many climate variables.
Climatological-data summaries and wind roses are also available, as well as some datasets derived from the virtual climate station network. We will be adding more products to ClimateExplorer on a regular basis.
Some ClimateExplorer products are free to download (such as climate change scenario maps). While there are costs associated with other products, we have kept these costs as low as possible. For regular users, we recommend an annual subscription ($185 + GST) as a cost-effective means of getting up-to-date climate information.
Visit ClimateExplorer to get climate information your way.
To become a subscriber, or for further information, contact: Dr Andrew Tait, 0-4-386 0562, [email protected]
New energy partner for NIWA
With its purchase of 50% of CRL Energy Ltd, NIWA has become part of New Zealand’s largest energy research organisation. Like NIWA, CRL Energy is a science organisation undertaking research on issues of growing national and international significance. Staff at CRL Energy have substantial energy-engineering and science expertise which will complement NIWA’s skills in such fields as energy resource assessment and renewables.
CRL Energy has specialist knowledge in new energy technologies such as biomass conversion and hydrogen. Its coal research is focused on clean coal technologies, carbon capture and storage, and environmentally acceptable practices in mineral extraction.
The Coal Association of New Zealand (CANZ) retains the other 50% share of CRL Energy. NIWA and CANZ have developed an 'Agreed Vision' for CRL Energy that focuses on secure, clean, internationally competitive energy solutions.
For further information, contact: Geoff Baird, Science Communication, 0-4-386 0543, [email protected] Dr Rob Whitney, CRL Energy Ltd, 0-4-570 3700, [email protected]