Antarctica

NIWA’s research vessel Tangaroa sets off for a six-week voyage to Antarctica in February. Six of those aboard explain what they’re doing, what they’re worried about and the one thing they wouldn’t be without.

A dramatic change in sea ice this year is likely to hamper a NIWA-led research project aiming to better understand how ice shelves will melt as the ocean warms.

The Deep South National Science Challenge is one of New Zealand’s most audacious collaborative projects in recent times.

Pioneering NIWA scientists are returning to the cold continent in October, this time to focus on the seabed.

The Ross Sea Marine Protected Area (MPA) in the Southern Ocean will help further research into the ecology of Antarctic toothfish.

An unavoidable delay in a research ship’s voyage to Antarctica resulted in some surprising and important findings about the behaviour of emperor penguins.

Antarctica is experiencing stunning skyscapes like those recently seen in New Zealand, thanks to the afterglow effect from the Tongan volcano.

CFCs have damaged the ozone layer and led to higher UV levels and increased health risks. Our role is to understand the causes and effects of ozone depletion, to inform the public of the risk.

Write a report, with guided questions, to answer the question: “How cold is the Antarctic?”

Scott Base, Antarctica Antarctica is the coldest, windiest and driest continent. Scott Base is New Zealand's permanent Antarctic base. Sited on the coast, temperatures, although very low, are higher than those recorded inland. Average Rainfall and Temperature Scott Base
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NIWA oceanographer Dr Cliff Law explains the impacts of ocean acidification on organisms that use carbonates to build their shells, and on bacteria.