Air Quality

Community Air Watch Arrowtown enables members of the public to use new technologies to participate in studies of air quality.

Schools Air Watch enables school classes to use new technologies to participate in a study of air quality in their own community.

Community Air Watch Invercargill enables members of the public to use new technologies to participate in studies of air quality.

Air quality is almost never consistent across NZ’s towns – polluted air can readily be transported on the breeze and accumulate in different locations.

Peter Sperlich needs a strong south-westerly and a cast iron stomach for his next scientific mission.

Once a year, technicians from NIWA’s North Island Field Team don helmets and head lamps to check a network of CO2 sensors in the world-renowned Waitomo Caves. The sensors help make sure that heavy breathing visitors aren’t wrecking the caves’ precious natural structures and microclimate.

Some of the most striking images of lockdown around the world have been the blue skies of cities ordinarily choking in smog. From New Delhi to Los Angeles, Beijing to Paris, the changes were so remarkable they were visible from space.

NIWA scientists have set up air quality sensors every 100 metres across Arrowtown in what is believed to be the world’s densest air monitoring network.

Animations showing wind conditions and air quality over 24-hour periods across study towns during winter 2021 and 2020.

Seven weeks of lockdown has provided evidence of how pollution can vanish overnight with benefits for the environment and individuals, says NIWA air quality scientist Dr Ian Longley.

NIWA scientists are seeking help to sniff out smoke in a bid to help improve air quality in New Zealand.

Traffic pollution measurements in Auckland since Level 4 restrictions were eased on Tuesday have shown levels soaring even higher than those before lockdown, NIWA air quality scientists say.