Climate & Weather

Understanding our variable and changing climate is critical for managing resources and reducing risks.

  • (no image provided)

    What is ocean acidification?

    Education Resource
    Ocean acidification is the name given to the lowering of pH of the oceans as a result of increasing carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere.
  • Marlborough

    The main characteristic of the Marlborough climate is its dryness. Summer droughts are frequent, and the region is often swept by warm, dry northwesterlies.
  • Shifting Sands – the end of a Kiwi dream

    Feature story
    The Kiwi dream of owning a beachfront property with panoramic views of the ocean is under threat—and not just for financial reasons.
  • (no image provided)

    Mean number of days of ground frost

    These datasets are available in a range of formats.
  • (no image provided)

    What is the greenhouse effect?

    Education Resource
    The greenhouse effect is a warming of the earth's surface and lower atmosphere caused by substances which let the sun's energy through to the ground but impede the passage of energy from the earth back into space.
  • West Coast

    West Coast is New Zealand’s wettest region, and this may be attributed to its exposure to the predominant westerly airflow over the country, combined with the orographic effect of the Southern Alps.
  • (no image provided)

    Mean relative humidity

    You can download these summaries in a range of formats.
  • Lauder Atmospheric Research Station

    UVI forecast for Specific Sites

    Check out UV index forecasts for locations in New Zealand (including ski fields), Australia, the Pacific and Antarctica.
  • (no image provided)

    West Coast

  • Otago

    The climate of Otago is perhaps the most diverse of any region in New Zealand.
  • PARTneR (Pacific Risk Tool for Resilience)

    Research Project
    Understanding how hazards impact people and the environment provides the foundation for informed decision making for a resilient Pacific.