Archive: Waiology June 2014

How deep was Wednesday’s snowfall? The people weigh in

Waiology • Jun 08, 2012

• citizen science,
• Data,
• Measurements,
• snow,
• Variability

By Daniel Collins The snowstorm that covered much of the South Island with a white veil on Wednesday cut power to over a thousand homes and closed many schools and businesses. But in the midst of the disruption was a rare opportunity to do some important science: to measure the amount and density of the snow that fell at … Read More

Citizen science: How deep is the snow at your place?

Waiology • Jun 06, 2012

• citizen science,
• Data,
• Measurements,
• snow,
• Variability

By Daniel Collins and Ross Woods Measurements of snowfall at low elevations around New Zealand are few and far between, and yet the data would be really helpful in understanding how snowfall occurs and quantifying snow-related risks. After all, the large majority of New Zealand’s population and infrastructure reside closer to the coast than the mountains. And so we’d like … Read More

How much water does it take to produce one litre of milk?

Waiology • May 24, 2012

• dairy,
• Daniel Collins,
• milk,
• New Zealand,
• NIWA,
• waiology,
• Water footprints,
• water use

The single biggest consumer of water in New Zealand is the dairy industry. As of 2010, farmers are permitted to take about 4707 million m3 of water per year from New Zealand’s rivers and aquifers to irrigate pasture, most of which is for dairying. This is 44% of all consumptive uses (excluding the Manapouri hydropower scheme), and 68% of … Read More

Canterbury water use, 2010/11

Waiology • Apr 10, 2012

• Canterbury,
• Data,
• Environment Canterbury,
• Guest post,
• Water allocation,
• water use

Guest post by James Tricker, Principle Extension Services Officer, Environment Canterbury There are increasing expectations, both within the Canterbury community and also within a national context, that the relation between water allocation and water use is more strongly understood. The Environment Canterbury Water Use Report presents the information gathered on consented water use in Canterbury between 1 July 2010 and … Read More

Clutha River/Mata-Au re-imagined as a public transport system

Waiology • Apr 03, 2012

• catchment,
• Clutha River,
• Mata-Au,
• river network

By Daniel Collins Some time ago I came across these maps of US rivers systems depicted as subway routes. They’re nice illustrations of rivers as a connected system of transport corridors, with populated areas as stops along the way. Instead of viewing a map with blue lines in the background and cities brought to the fore, the roles are … Read More

The hydro-illogical cycle

Waiology • Mar 06, 2012

• Planning,
• Resource management,
• Variability,
• water cycle

By Daniel Collins Seen during a presentation by water resources expert Professor Robert Glennon last month. This says a lot about the costs of complacent water resources planning in a variable climate. The principle here is much like the Latin adage: Si vis pacem, para bellum — if you wish for peace, prepare for war. Read More

Canterbury Lysimeter Network: Measuring the hydrologic inputs to aquifers

Waiology • Jan 30, 2012

• Canterbury,
• Drainage,
• Groundwater,
• Groundwater recharge,
• Infiltration,
• Lysimeters

By MS Srinivasan Irrigated agriculture is growing in Canterbury. This growth has resulted in a greater rush for accessing water resources — surface and ground waters – across the region. Since these water resources are finite, limits on their takes are imposed to conserve them and make them available for other uses. However, setting limits on groundwater has remained a … Read More

Kinky relationships among Canterbury’s springs

Waiology • Jan 23, 2012

• Canterbury,
• Etymology,
• Groundwater,
• Springs,
• Streamflow,
• SW-GW interaction

By Daniel Collins As Ross mentioned some time ago, one of the frontiers of hydrological research at present is the interface between surface water and groundwater. On the one hand, we need to understand how aquifers are recharged from the surface; on the other, how aquifers in turn discharge water back to the surface. This is important to … Read More

Rainfall recharge to groundwater

Waiology • Jan 17, 2012

• Groundwater,
• Groundwater recharge,
• Guest post,
• Water allocation

Guest post by Paul White, Senior Groundwater Scientist at GNS Science. Groundwaters are very important water resources in many New Zealand regions — important because they are used for water supplies (urban and rural) and because they supply flow to many springs, streams, rivers and wetlands. The two major inflows to groundwater are from rainfall and from surface … Read More

Edmond Halley, an underappreciated hydrologist

Waiology • Jan 09, 2012

• Edmund Halley,
• Evaporation,
• Experimental hydrology,
• History of hydrology,
• water cycle

By Daniel Collins I remember in 1986 going to the Beverly-Begg Observatory, in Dunedin, to see Halley’s Comet. At the time, I was a young kid fascinated with astronomy. I had discovered a book on the topic the previous year while on holiday in Central Otago, and soon joined an astronomy club. Through the club, I built a basic … Read More