Geological hazards

New findings from the record-breaking Tongan volcanic eruption are “surprising and unexpected."

Our team onboard RV Tangaroa are equipped with all the tech and tools they need to explore the undersea changes caused by the devastating volcanic eruption in Tonga earlier this year.

The January eruption of the Tongan volcano Hunga Tonga – Hunga Ha’apai triggered tsunamis as far away as the Caribbean. NIWA scientists are onboard RV Tangaroa surveying the ocean around the volcano, working to understand the largest eruption of its kind since 1981 so they can help increase our knowledge about similar volcanoes around the world.

Samples are collected to understand how the seafloor geology, biogeochemistry and ecosystem health has been affected by the volcanic eruption.

You’ll be blown away by what these women in science are up to onboard this RV Tangaroa voyage to the Tasman Sea.

You’ll be blown away by what these women in science are doing onboard RV Tangaroa in the Tasman sea!

NIWA and The Nippon Foundation are undertaking a mission to discover the undersea impacts of the recent Tongan volcanic eruption.

Kaikōura Canyon reveals its muddy secrets

Marsden-funded research investigating how erupting volcanoes can cause deadly and damaging tsunamis.

Innovative experiments are giving natural hazard researchers and PhD students a close look at how erupting volcanoes can cause deadly and damaging tsunamis.

Underwater Remotely Operated Vehicle helping scientists collect the latest earthquake data.

New Zealanders and Pacific Island communities are on their way to having the most advanced tsunami monitoring system in the world.