GNS Science

🌟These tamariki from Silverstream School in Upper Hutt have turned the ignition on a new project to drive down their transport emissions! 🛴As part of our Drive it Down! project we’re using cutting-edge climate science to encourage the students to take action through a school-wide active transport campaign. 📉To make their invisible transport emissions ‘visible’ we’ve installed a sensor at the school gate that measures carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide concentrations – we’ll be tracking the concentrations during term-time, in the holidays and during their campaign. 👩🔬Our carbon cycle scientists gave these young leaders a sneak peek inside the sensor and enlisted their help to get it securely installed. 🏅They’re up for the challenge of squashing their school drop-off emissions peak – ka rawe! 🤝We’re working with Greater Wellington Regional Council and Wellington Enviroschools to bring this initiative to both Silverstream School and Seatoun School. Find out more about Drive it Down! and check out our free carbon cycle teaching resources 👉https://lnkd.in/gb_UEREc 📷Credit Erin Edmonds / Silverstream School

🥇We’re proud to have completed an ambitious project using aerial electromagnetic technology to map the vast Hawke’s Bay groundwater system, strengthening the region’s freshwater resilience. 🚁Working in partnership with Hawke's Bay Regional Council we gathered data from 8,000 km of flight lines across the region, creating three-dimensional models of the aquifers hidden underground. 👀The state-of-the-art SkyTEM system allowed us to ‘see’ underground to an average depth of 300 m. We gathered information about the location and flow of groundwater, and its connection with the rivers above.  📊The data has been used to update and refine numerical groundwater models. These are the primary tools used by the regional council to aid in setting groundwater allocations and other water management decisions. 🤝The survey was funded by GNS Science, Hawke's Bay Regional Council and the Provincial Growth Fund administered by Kānoa - Regional Economic Development & Investment Unit (Kānoa – RD). “It’s fantastic to see this significant mapping work completed and available for public use. By gaining detailed insights into our water resources, the region can better improve its resilience to droughts and support economic productivity,” said Kay Read, General Manger for Regions for Kānoa – RD. Find out more about the Hawke’s Bay project 👉https://lnkd.in/gAAgeJcW 🗣️Zara Rawlinson, Richard Levy

🌋 We're developing next-generation ash forecasts for volcanic eruptions.   What’s the problem? Volcanic ash can harm human and animal health, damage critical infrastructure and aircraft, and kill crops. During eruptions, accurate and rapid ash dispersion and ashfall forecasts can help inform impact assessments and enable emergency and infrastructure managers to make critical decisions to protect New Zealanders from these harmful ash impacts. This new research will address the question “How fast can accurate ash forecasts be created during an eruption?” The project will combine existing real time data with models based on past eruptions in a novel way to rapidly and dynamically constrain eruption source parameters – such as plume height, eruption rate and duration – and their uncertainties.   Programme lead Dr. Paul Jarvis says “We aim to develop methods for rapidly measuring eruption properties, to produce faster and more reliable ash transport forecasts. This will enable quicker and better-informed decision making, reducing impacts on communities and support faster recovery from damaging volcanic eruptions". Thanks to the MBIE Science and Innovation Endeavour Smart Ideas fund, this project has been funded for three years. 🤝 We will be working with MetService, Massey University researchers, CSIRO (Australia), Université Clermont Auvergne (France), Civil Aviation Authority of New Zealand, National Emergency Management Agency (NZ) and neo leaf global. Learn more about this programme and our other recently funded resilience research 👇 https://lnkd.in/gMzXbSbx 📷 Dr Paul Jarvis in the field at Santorini Caldera Greece. 📷 Dr Paul Jarvis in the field at Sabancaya volcano Peru. 📷 Mount Ruapehu volcano in eruption, June 1996. Credit L Homer. Stay tuned as we cover more of our new research programmes...

🛠️🔬 We're developing a new technology... carbon-negative concrete! 🏗️ #Concrete is the second most-consumed material on Earth after water. In New Zealand, 3.92 million cubic metres of ready-mixed concrete was produced last financial year. 🚧 What's the problem? A key ingredient in concrete, portland #cement, releases CO₂ during production. This process produces around 8% of total emissions worldwide - almost quadruple the emissions of total global air travel! 🧪 Thanks to the MBIE Science and Innovation's Endeavour fund, we are launching a 5-year research programme to develop a new iron-based #cement. 🏘️ This new product will serve as a direct drop-in replacement for portland cement. Not only will it reduce #construction and #manufacturing emissions, but it will also absorb CO₂ too. Programme lead Dr. Murray McCurdy said, “This research aims to transform the New Zealand concrete sector from a significant GHG emitter to a climate change solution.” 🤝 We will be working with Victoria University of Wellington, University of Canterbury, Callaghan Innovation, Hummingbird Holdings, The University of Waikato, and New Zealand Institute for Minerals to Materials Research. Learn more about this programme and our other recently funded technology research 👉 https://lnkd.in/gfXVeTu6 🔊BusinessDesk NZ, Concrete NZ, Engineering New Zealand Te Ao Rangahau. Stay tuned for more exciting new research announcements...

🛠️🔬 We're developing a new technology... carbon-negative concrete! 🏗️ #Concrete is the second most-consumed material on Earth after water. In New Zealand, 3.92 million cubic metres of ready-mixed concrete was produced last financial year. 🚧 What's the problem? A key ingredient in concrete, portland #cement, releases CO₂ during production. This process produces around 8% of total emissions worldwide - almost quadruple the emissions of total global air travel! 🧪 Thanks to the MBIE Science and Innovation's Endeavour fund, we are launching a 5-year research programme to develop a new iron-based #cement. 🏘️ This new product will serve as a direct drop-in replacement for portland cement. Not only will it reduce #construction and #manufacturing emissions, but it will also absorb CO₂ too. Programme lead Dr. Murray McCurdy said, “This research aims to transform the New Zealand concrete sector from a significant GHG emitter to a climate change solution.” 🤝 We will be working with Victoria University of Wellington, University of Canterbury, Callaghan Innovation, Hummingbird Holdings, The University of Waikato, and New Zealand Institute for Minerals to Materials Research. Learn more about this programme and our other recently funded technology research 👉 https://lnkd.in/gfXVeTu6 🔊BusinessDesk NZ, Concrete NZ, Engineering New Zealand Te Ao Rangahau. Stay tuned for more exciting new research announcements...

Here’s a unique opportunity to contribute to groundbreaking research and support local climate resilience efforts.  If you’re out for a walk in Urenui or Ōnaero, you can help monitor our coastline with a few taps on your phone 🤳 How you can help: 1. Find the CoastSnap stations at Urenui or Ōnaero. 2. Set up your phone in one of the stations. 3. Take a photo, scan the QR code, and upload your picture. The more photos we get, the better the results will be! 🤝 Thanks to Ngati Mutunga who are supporting this initiative and to a one-off grant from New Plymouth District Council, Massey University  and GNS Science, a new project is underway to track the erosion of our northern cliff faces.  “This project aims to help develop risk management tools for rocky cliffs, where landslides and slips are frequent and pose a threat to those who pass through these areas,” says Massey PhD candidate and Environmental Engineer Alfredo Jaramillo-Velez.  To find out more and how you can contribute to this #citizenscience project, click here 👉 https://lnkd.in/gVVCnpEe  📸: Alfredo Jaramillo with GNS scientists testing the equipment used to detect coastal erosion.

Today we celebrate our science with six projects that have been successful in the 2024 Endeavour funding round 🥳 Three 5-year research programmes will develop better technologies to future-proof New Zealand's groundwater resources, improve forecasting of slow-moving landslides and reduce emissions from concrete production. Three 3-year Smart Idea projects will investigate the effects of reinjected CO2 on geothermal systems, develop novel electrocatalytic systems for decarbonised ammonia production, and create innovative methods for rapid ash dispersal forecasts. Read our stories about this critical research supporting a more resilient and cleaner New Zealand at https://lnkd.in/g__HR6pt Keep an eye on our social channels for more news on each of these great projects in the coming weeks 👀. 📷: Landslide damage 📷: Pouring concrete  📷: Modular system to produce ammonia 📷: Geothermal production well

We continue to celebrate Resilience to Nature's Challenges by acknowledging the mahi of one of their awesome students. The Resilience to Nature's Challenges National Science Challenge has funded over 150 post-graduate students over the past 10 years 🤯  This represents a significant boost to the country's capability and expertise in natural hazards, risk reduction, and resilience planning. Student projects focused on a range of topics, ranging from decolonising managed retreat, to using analyses of sounds beyond the range of human hearing to study volcanic eruptions 🌋 Meet Laura Hughes! She completed her PhD as part of the Resilience Challenge🎓 Laura's research at Victoria University of Wellington was part of the Challenge’s Earthquake & Tsunami team. #Earthquake cycle simulators allowed the team to model vast numbers of different earthquakes, and earthquake sequences. Laura's research explored how differences in the underlying earthquakes impact the resulting tsunami, which has helped improve our knowledge of #tsunami hazards around the New Zealand coast 🌊 Laura is now working for us here at GNS Science as a Tsunami Hazard Scientist🙌 Congratulations to all the students and early career researchers who have come up through the Resilience Challenge. We look forward to working with you in the future! 🤝

We are thrilled to announce that Rotorua’s geothermal fields (Ahi-Tupua), Ruapehu Volcano and three other Aotearoa New Zealand sites have been recognised with "world's best" status in the Second 100 IUGS Geological Heritage Sites! 🎉 GNS Science and the Geoscience Society of New Zealand nominated Rotorua’s geothermal fields for their extraordinary geothermal taonga and Massey University nominated Ruapehu Volcano. The five New Zealand's geological wonders making waves and earning a spot on the prestigious list include: ♨️ Rotorua’s geothermal fields (Ahi-Tupua) 🌋 Ruapehu Volcano 🪨 Muriwai Megapillow Lava Flows  ⛰️ The towering sea cliffs of Fiordland 💦 Maruia Falls This announcement comes after over 700 experts from 80 nations and 16 international organisations came together to celebrate the world's most vital geological sites through the IUGS Geological Heritage Programme. This global recognition acknowledges the rich geological tapestry of New Zealand and its contribution to science. Read the full story here 👇 https://lnkd.in/gjrw3uEN 🔉Brad Scott, Bay of Plenty Regional Council, Rotorua Lakes Council, Massey University, Whakarewarewa - The Living Māori Village, Department of Conservation (DOC), Tourism New Zealand, Geoscience Society of New Zealand #GNSScience #GeothermalFields #GeologicalHeritage #Rotorua #AhiTupua #Ruapehu #Fiordland #Muriwai #MaruiaFalls #IUGS #ProudMoment #NZGeology

FREE ENERGY #WEBINAR TOMORROW: Tuesday 10th September | 4-5pm. ⚡ Heat makes up one-third of our country's overall energy use and contributes to ~8% of our total emissions. 🏭 Industrial processes make up 86% of our total heat use, with about 56% of the heat being supplied using fossil fuels, mainly gas and coal. ♨️ We have a hot opportunity to tap into the geothermal heat as an alternative heat supply across Aotearoa New Zealand, not just in our volcanic regions. 🔋 By harnessing geothermal heat we can secure a 24/7 supply of heat for our industries, while significantly reducing emissions and costs. 💻 Learn more from GNS Scientist Brian Carey at his free webinar and Q&A tomorrow with Carbon and Energy Professionals New Zealand 👉 https://lnkd.in/g3eYqbUS Download the slides here 👉 https://lnkd.in/g6ivn7Hi