DSC Seminar #10 | Snow, ice and glaciers in our changing climate

New Zealand is projected to warm by 1-4°C during the 21st century. This warming will melt our frozen water resources – our snow, ice and glaciers. However, the scale and timing of changes to our meltwater aren’t clear. We need improved water projections for the development of robust climate adaptation policy. With Andrew Mackintosh (Victoria University of Wellington) and Jono Conway (Bodeker Scientific).

New Zealand is projected to warm by 1-4°C during the 21st century. This warming will melt our frozen water resources – our snow, ice and glaciers. However, the scale and timing of this melt is not clear. 

Mountain rivers in both the North and South Islands of New Zealand feed our largest hydro-electric power schemes, and provide critical water for irrigation, especially during drought. Melting snow and ice may also cause increased flooding.

The aim of this research project, affectionately nicknamed “The Icey Project,” is to make projections about how runoff from New Zealand’s glaciers and seasonal snow will change into the future. The research team is also engaging with iwi, industry representatives and local authorities to determine the specific needs of communities that use water. This data is crucial for decision makers in government, communities and industry. This research project brings together, for the first time, New Zealand’s leading snow and glacier scientists (read about the full research team at our website, here). Professor Andrew Mackintosh’s research focuses on understanding how glaciers and ice sheets behave and interact with the global climate system, using a physics-based approach. He leads the Glacier Research Group at the Antarctic Research Centre.

Physical hubs: 

• NIWA Wellington: Conference Room
• NIWA Christchurch: Terra Nova Room
• Victoria University of  Wellington: Room MYLT 101
• University of Canterbury: Kauri Room, Puaka James Hight Building
• University of Otago: Room 229 Science III Building

Please note, all visitors to NIWA must sign in on arrival.

We encourage you to set up your own hub and bring friends and colleagues together to participate in the seminar. Please let us know if you do set up your own hub.

Email: [email protected]