News
New Zealand’s changing Oceans
In recent discussions at the 28th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP28), the urgency of acting on Earth’s rising temperatures was highlighted. COP28 emphasized the role of the ocean as a carbon and heat sink, and the necessity to improve our understanding and monitoring.
Meet us at the Australasian Coasts & Ports 2023 Conference
This week, the MetService Research & Innovation Science Team will present at the Australasian Coast & Ports 2023 Conference in Queensland, Australia. The event is organized by Engineers Australia's National Committee on Coastal and Ocean Engineering, PIANC Australia and New Zealand, Engineering New Zealand, and the New Zealand Coastal Society. The event runs from the 15th –18th August. This year's edition marks the 50th anniversary since the first conference was held in 1973 and will reflect on the history of coastal, ocean, and port engineering in Australasia while also looking ahead to the next 50 years.
SwellMap: New Zealand’s only hazard forecast for rock or land-based fishing
Rock fishing has become a popular recreational activity. However, it is unfortunate that an average of four rock fishers drown each year due to being swept off the rocks by large waves (Surf Life Saving NZ) and is considered one of the most dangerous recreational activities in New Zealand (Drowning Prevention Auckland).
Meet us at the New Zealand Marine Sciences Society Conference 2023
The MetOcean Solutions team is presenting at the New Zealand Marine Sciences Society Conference 2023 this week. Running from 26-28 June in Wellington, the event is hosted by Victoria University of Wellington, and gathers specialists and industry leaders to lift the lid on marine challenges through state-of-the-art technologies and world class science.
World Oceans Day: a day to celebrate our oceans
As we celebrate World Oceans Day, it is important to acknowledge the people who contribute to our success in oceanography.
Over two million data points every day
Every day, the MetOceanView service ingests and serves up to our clients more than 2 million unique data points. These are modelled and observed data providing vital marine and atmospheric weather information to users.
A 3,000-year wave height event during Cyclone Gabrielle
On 14 February 2023, during Tropical Cyclone Gabrielle - the worst storm to hit Aotearoa New Zealand this century - Port of Napier’s Wave Rider Buoy measured significant wave heights (Hs) of up to 6 meters, before waves broke it free from its mooring. Although the buoy was situated just beyond the breaking zone, it is likely that a single large individual breaking wave or intense white capping could have led to the breakage of the buoy mooring.
OceanPrediction survey for final users
OceanPredict is a science programme for the coordination and improvement of global and regional ocean analysis and forecasting systems. We would like to support their initiative to learn more about user satisfaction with the operational ocean forecasting services.
Fishing for data: commercial fishers help monitor rising temperatures in coastal seas
Research from the Moana Project today featured on The Conversation.
The article authored by Te Tiro Moana team lead Dr Julie Jakoboski (MetOcean), Moana Project Science Lead Dr João de Souza (MetOcean) and Project Manager Dr Malene Felsing (MetOcean) showcases the Mangōpare Sensor and how it is used to fill the gap in coastal data collection.
Ocean Race Teams face the wild waves of the Southern Ocean
The Ocean Race is one of the toughest professional sailing events in the world. Leg 3 of the race, from Cape Town to Itajaí (Brazil), started on 26 February 2023. This leg takes the fleet on a monstrous 23,613-kilometre Southern Ocean passage, three quarters of the way around the bottom of the world.
SeaWeek 2023: Tracking ocean temperatures with a waka
Last Sunday at Ngamotu Beach, MetOcean's Naomi Puketapu-Waite held a stall at Taranaki’s SeaWeek event for 2023. SeaWeek is an annual event run by the New Zealand Association for Environmental Education, a national non-profit that promotes and supports lifelong learning and sustainability for Aotearoa New Zealand.
The link between our increased ocean temperatures and cyclonic activity
The increased energy in the oceans due to warmer ocean temperatures is one of the factors creating the intense weather systems we have been seeing in New Zealand this summer. More heat from the ocean means more moisture in the atmosphere, more convection, and less slowing of storms due to meeting cooler oceans. The link between our increasing ocean temperatures and volatile weather systems is the focus of cutting-edge weather prediction and climate science research, says Moana Project Lead and Ocean Temperature Researcher, Dr. Joao De Souza.
Storm Surge Forecasting during Cyclone Gabrielle
This week, Cyclone Gabrielle brought significant heavy rain and strong winds that, combined with energetic ocean swells, caused significant storm surges to New Zealand. Surges occurred along the northern and eastern coasts of the North Island as well as parts of the South Island, as the system moved away to the east. Storm surge is the abnormal rise of water generated by a storm, over and above the predicted astronomical tides. These surges, caused by the wind, waves and atmospheric pressure changes associated with a storm, exacerbate the effect of waves on coastal areas.
2023 Celebration of the International Day of Women and Girls in Science
Last weekend, MetOcean Solutions’ organised an open Q&A session about Ocean Science at Ngarunui Beach, Raglan to celebrate the International Day of Women and Girls in Science.
Operational storm surge forecast
Unprecedented flooding of low-lying sections of New Zealand's largest cities occurred over the past weekend, severely disrupting the nation's public transportation system and forcing the shutdown of the country's international and domestic airports.
Meri Kirihimete me te Hape Nū Ia! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Meri Kirihimete me te Hape Nū Ia! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Get ready for summer with SwellMap!
To help people understand the risks associated with beaches and coastal areas around New Zealand, we've released Ocean Fishing and Shoreline hazard forecasts for Rips, Rock fishing and Stand Up paddleboarding.
Peter Atkinson - obituary
A great man passed away this week. Peter Atkinson had a distinguished career in port engineering that spanned many decades. His early career was as Chief Engineer of the Taranaki Harbours Board in 1983 and later had roles as Technical Service Manager (Westgate) and Manager of Marine and Port Engineering at Duffill Watts and King. Between 2013-2016 he returned to Port Taranaki as the Port Planning Manager.
Meet us at 37th International Conference on Coastal Engineering - ICCE 2022 in Sydney
This week, Dr Alexis Berthot, MetOcean Solutions’ Marine Project Consultancy Manager and Physical Oceanographer Dr Mariana Cussioli are attending the 37th International Conference on Coastal Engineering. Running from 4-9 December in Sydney, Australia, the conference is a biennial event to promote academic and technical exchange on coastal related studies. This year's theme is The Present State of the Art and Science of Coastal Engineering.