INSIDE THE UNIVERSITIES - A summary of recent work in meteorology and climatology in the New Zealand universities
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Weather and Climate (1983) 3
INSIDE THE UNIVERSITIES
A summary o f recent w o r k in meteorology and climatology in
the N e w Zealand universities
UNIVERSITY O F O TA G O The Otago a n d Southland Division o f the W i n d
Energy Resource Survey b y K . R. Dawber and P. J.
Botany Department Edwards is nearing completion.
The main emphasis o f the Department o f Botany
is o n ecological aspects o f climate, particularly RECENT PUBLICATIONS
climate i n r e l a t i o n t o vegetation zonation, p l a n t
behaviour, and water balance. Bardsley, W . E . , 1981: W i n d energy f l u x a t N e w
Zealand r a d a r - w i n d stations. N e w Z e a l a n d
Geography Department Journal o f Science, 24: 89-94.
Dawber, K . R . , 1981: W i n d energy research a n d
Recent research h a s concentrated o n a n assess- development i n Denmark a n d Holland. South
ment o f a i r pollution dispersion from the proposed Wind, June-Sept. 1981, Nos. 4 and 5, 13-15.
smelter site a t Aramoana ( i n conjunction w i t h t h e Edwards, P. J., 1982: A directory o f wind energy
Department o f Physics). Measurements a t t h e site activities i n N e w Zealand. South Wind, M a r c h
included solar a n d n e t radiation, deep inversions, 1982, Nos. 7, 10, 19.
and trajectories o f tetroons released a t v a r i o u s Edwards, P. J. and Dawber, K . R., 1981: A regional
heights during up-harbour winds, as well as the usual wind energy survey: W i n d energy prospects i n
climatic elements. Recent theses a n d dissertations the Otago region o f N e w Zealand. South Wind,
have been concerned with rainfall and water vapour March 1982, No. 7, 14-15.
parameters o f the South-West Pacific, avalanches and Fitzharris, B. B., 1981: Frequency and climatology of
their formation, mapping o f summer heat units a t major avalanches a t Rogers Pass, 1909-1977.
the mesoscale i n C e n t r a l Otago, a n d testing o f National Research C o u n c i l o f Canada, D B R
models t o estimate evaporation i n t h e Maniototo. Paper, N o . 956.
Current research involves measurement o f evapor- Fitzharris, B . B . , 1 9 8 1 : , C l i m a t e a n d r e g i o n a l
ation using Bowen r a t i o techniques ( R a y Jackson), planning. I n M a n , Environment a n d Planning,
mapping o f f o g i n t h e C r o m w e l l B a s i n ( B r u c e Essays in Honour o f Ronald Lister, Heenan and
Geden), investigating t h e cap cloud o n M t Cargill Kearsley, Editors: 61-66.
(Carolyn Robertson), a n d effects o f orchard m a n - Fitzharris, B . B . a n d Grimmond, C . S . B . , 1982:
agement systems o n vertical temperature profiles Assessing snow storage and melt i n a New Zea-
(Jon Bell). land m o u n t a i n e n v i r o n m e n t . I n t e r n a t i o n a l
Association o f Scientific Hydrology, Publication
Physics Department 138: 161-168.
Two separate projects relating t o t h e proposed
aluminium smelter a t Aramoana have been investi-
gated. T h e first, b y P. J . Edwards a n d P. Isaac,
DISSERTATIONS AND THESES (1981-82)
investigated m a r i n e atmosphere corrosion a t f o u r Bray, J . C . , 1 9 8 1 : S n o w h a z a r d i n MacKenzie
specified locations close t o Ti m a r u a n d Dunedin, Country: farmers' perception a n d adjustments.
and was initiated a t t h e request o f N e w Zealand B.A. Hons., Department o f Geography.
Electricity a n d implemented w i t h t h e i r support. Cleugh, H . A . , 1981: Evaporation estimation f o r
The s e c o n d p r o j e c t , i n collaboration w i t h t h e irrigated pasture i n the Maniototo. B.Sc. Hons.,
Geography Department, contributed to the pollution Department o f Geography.
dispersion s t u d y a n d w a s based o n t h e measure- Ho, C. W. , 1982: Snow avalanche studies in the M t
ment a n d assessment o f w i n d a n d temperature Cook region. M.Sc., Department o f Geography.
structure a t a n d n e a r t h e proposed s i t e o f t h e Holdsworth, D . K . , 1981: Y i e l d a n d macronutrient
smelter. A 5 0 m tower a t the site was extensively content o f water f r o m the snow tussock grass-
instrumented and several fixed and portable stations land zone o f eastern a n d central Otago. Ph.D.,
established in the surrounding area. This project was Department o f Botany.
carried o u t b y P. J . Edwards a n d P. Isaac w i t h Khatep, M . , 1982: Precipitation climatology o f the
assistance f r o m R. McGann and K . R . Dawber. A t South-West Pacific i n r e l a t i o n t o u p p e r a i r
the t e r m i n a t i o n o f these projects, s u p p o r t w a s parameters. Ph.D., Department o f Geography.
obtained f r o m t h e N . Z . meteorological Service f o r Turner, A . E., 1981: M a n n i n g summer heat a t the
further f i n e structure studies a t A r a m o a n a a n d mesoscale. B . S c . H o n s . , D e p a r t m e n t o f
Rocklands. Geography.Inside Universities 37
INTERNAL REPORTS particular section o f coastline and i t is necessary to
To NEW ZEALAND ELECTRICITY generate a theoretical sea surface. The first computer
program package was written t o produce the energy
Edwards, P. J and Isaac. P. , 1980: M a r i n e a t - density spectrum, wave height a n d period statistics
mosphere corrosion s : u d y a t p r o s p e c t i v e for a given wind speed and fetch, and, f o r the shal-
aluminium sites. low water case, a water depth. T h e user has t h e
Edwards, and Isaac, P. , 1981: M a r i n e a t - choice o f four theoretical spectra, and the height and
mosphere corrosion s t u d y a t p r o s p e c t i v e period g i v e n b y t h e Sverdmp-Munk-Bretschneider
aluminium smelter sites — Part I I : Climet test theory. A n y o r a l l o f these options are available.
results.
B. B. FITZEIARRIS The spectra i n this package have been selected so
that there are t w o fetch-limited cases ( I O N S WA P
and L i u ) and two f o r the f u l l y arisen sea (Pierson-
Moskovitch a n d Neumann-Pierson). T h i s section
enables t h e reader t o choose a spectrum f o r a
U N I V E R S I T Y O F W A I K AT O specific application a n d secondly i t contains i n -
structions f o r operating t h e computer program.
Department o f Earth Sciences Wave refraction diagrams have many applications
M r To n y Petch continues writing u p his study o f in nearshore research. These include the calculation
storm r u n o ff under vegetated steenland catchments. of longshore currents and littoral d r i f t f o r which i t
is necessary t o k n o w t h e wave heights a n d angles
M r Paul D e l l has submitted his M.Sc. o n factors at the breaker zone. A refraction diagram is the only
effecting ground water i n the Mamaku ranges. theoretical approach w h i c h can b e used t o obtain
M r N i c k W i l l e t has submitted h i s M.Sc. thesis this information. To this end, a computer program
which includes computer wave refraction studies a t using the geometric optics theory utilised b y M u n k
the entrance to Aotea Harbour in relation to coastal and A r t h u r (1951) was written. This section looks at
erosion o f the subdivision. the equations a n d a t t h e procedure needed t o use
the program. The numerical system is similar to that
M r K e r r y Black is completing his doctoral thesis used b y Noda (1972).
study o f the currents, waves and sediment transport
at t h e proposed n e w t i m b e r p o r t site a t Marsden The t h i r d section describes t h e u s e o f a f a s t
Point. Recently a capacitance wave probe, using a Fourier analysis computer program w h i c h takes a
data-logger f o r output recordings, was installed. A l l time series a n d produces a spectrum o f energy
the programming f o r analysis o f t h e wave data i s density. T h e subroutines a n d algorithm t o achieve
complete. the F o u r i e r transform were written b y D r H a r o l d
Loomis o f the Joint Tsunami Research Effort, U n i -
M r Willem d e Lange i s completing his M . S . o n versity o f H a w a i i . T h e program analyses a t i m e
the numerical modelling o f tsunami waves and their series o f 2 N data points, where N i s a n integer,
effect in the Bay of Plenty. up t o a maximum o f 2048 points.
Applications o f t h e programs t o d a t e i n c l u d e
COMPUTER PROGRAMS F O R W AV E wave refraction a t Poverty B a y a n d a r o u n d t h e
ANALYSIS, W I N D W AV E G E N E R AT I O N , port o f Gisborne ( M i l l e r, 1981), a t F i t z r o y Beach
WAV E R E F R A C T I O N D I A G R A M S , (McLennan, 1982), Wa i t a r a (Matthews, 1982), a n d
A N D FA S T F O U R I E R A N A LY S I S Motonui, Taranaki (Benge, i n preparation).
Copies o f t h e programs a r e available f r o m t h e
by K e r r y P. Black and Te r r y R. Healy
Registrar, University o f Waikato.
Often there are n o wave records available f o r a T . R . HEALY38 W e a t h e r and Climate (1983) 3
NEW ZEALAND WEATHER
BRIEF R E V I E W O F T H E W E AT H E R from i n Northland and Southland, and there was a
JULY - DECEMBER 1982 continuation o f t h e d r o u g h t w h i c h developed i n
parts o f Canterbury a n d N o r t h Otago d u r i n g t h e
For m o s t o f t h e p e r i o d between J u l y a n d D e - early p a r t o f the year. M e a n temperatures were u p
cember 1982 t h e Southern Oscillation strongly i n - to 1 ° C below average i n the N o r t h Island and be-
fluenced the large-scale circulation i n the Pacific and tween 1 a n d 2 ° C b e l o w average i n t h e S o u t h
Indian Oceans. T h i s irregular oscillation involves Island. I t w a s sunnier t h a n usual, particularly i n
an interchange o f atmospheric mass between t h e western areas o f the N o r t h island and the east and
Pacific and I n d i a n Oceans i n the tropics a n d sub- south of the South Island.
tropics; i t i s presently i n a n extreme phase w i t h
higher t h a n n o r m a l pressure o v e r Indonesia a n d Dry, s u n n y conditions continued i n t o A u g u s t .
lower pressures i n t h e southeast Pacific. O t h e r Southwesterly winds predominated this month, w i t h
associated anomalies include low-level westerly winds pressures higher than usual, especially i n the north.
in the western equatorial Pacific, higher rainfalls i n In Canterbury a n d N o r t h Otago t h e drought b e -
many equatorial stations, and warmer surface waters came severe i n m a n y areas; m o s t o f t h e N o r t h
stretching westwards a l o n g t h e equator f r o m t h e Island h a d less than h a l f normal rainfall and o n l y
South American coast. The main effect i n the N e w the south and west o f the South Island were wetter
Zealand r e g i o n seems t o b e a n increase i n t h e than usual. I t was slightly cooler than normal i n
frequency o f southwesterly f l o w. S u e a a s o u t h - the north o f the North Island, but milder than usual
westerly anomaly w o u l d interact w i t h N e w Z e a - elsewhere. August was particularly sunny i n eastern
land's topography t o increase rainfall i n t h e south areas.
and west o f the South Island, and reduce the rain-
fall i n t h e n o r t h a n d east o f t h e country. T h i s September was d r y w i t h average temperatures and
pattern i s consistent w i t h t h e observed anomalies lighter w i n d s t h a n usual. Pressures w e r e a l i t t l e
over the July-December period. above average, especially t o the east. D r o u g h t con-
ditions continued i n eastern areas o f t h e S o u t h
The only areas to record more rainfall than normal Island, w i t h o n l y N e l s o n , western M a r l b o r o u g h ,
were South Westland, Fiordland, Southland, southern Taranaki, G i s b o m e a n d parts o f Wellington a n d
and central p a r t s o f Otago, a n d t h e Canterbury Northland h a v i n g a b o v e n o r m a l r a i n f a l l . M e a n
high c o u n t r y ( F i g . 1 A ) . T h e n o r t h o f t h e S o u t h temperatures were close t o normal f o r the month.
Island, local areas o f N o r t h Otago a n d a l l o f the Eastern and southern areas o f the South Island were
North Island, apart from south Taranaki and Mana- sunnier t h a n usual, w h i l e there was less sunshine
watu (where ra infa ll was normal), were d r i e r than than usual i n the N o r t h Island and the rest o f the
normal. South Island.
Mean temperatures i n eastern areas o f b o t h October was windy and cool. Southwesterlies were
Islands, western Taranaki and central N e w Zealand frequent and gale force winds affected many parts
showed little o r n o departure f r o m normal d u r i n g of t h e c o u n t r y t h i s m o n t h . Pressures w e r e v e r y
the second half o f the year (Fig. 1B). However, the low, particu:arly to the east. Rainfall was normal o r
Auckland Peninsula a n d western p a r t s o f b o t h below n o r m a l a p a r t f r o m Canterbury a n d Otago,
where f a l l s o f between 1 5 0 a n d 400% o f normal
Islands (apart f r o m western Taranaki) w e r e cooler
than usual. alleviated t h e severe d r o u g h t conditions t h a t h a d
existed i n these areas. Temperatures were between
Except f o r western areas o f Taranaki and coastal 1 a n d 2 ° C b e l o w n o r m a l , a n d several w i d e l y
Manawatu, w h i c h h a d less sunshine t h a n n o r m a l , separated stations established new record l o w mean
sunshine hours were close t o normal f o r the N o r t h temperatures f o r the month. Gale force winds, u n -
Island ((Fig. I C ) . A l t h o u g h southern a n d western seasonably heavy snow and l o w temperatures closed
areas o f the South Island were less sunny than usual, roads i n both Islands and widely disrupted sporting
the r e s t o f t h e S o u t h I s l a n d w a s s u n n i e r t h a n events o v e r L a b o u r Weekend (23rd-25th). Sunshine
normal. S o m e coastal areas o f N o r t h Otago a n d hours were close t o normal.
Canterbury, a n d t h e Kaikoura Coast, showed v e r y Windy c o n d i t i o n s c o n t i n u e d i n t o N o v e m b e r.
high departures f r o m normal. Southwesterlies predominated i n t h e n o r t h where
pressures w e r e h i g h , a n d northwesterlies i n t h e
M O N T H LY S U M M A R I E S south where pressures were lower than usual. Gales
J U LY - DECEMBER 1982 were frequent. The only areas to have rainfall above
average w e r e t h e s o u t h a n d w e s t o f t h e S o u t h
July w a s c o o l , d r y a n d sunny. Southwesterlies Island. These areas a l s o h a d l o w e r temperatures
were prevalent i n t h e south, where pressures were than normal, while the rest o f the country was mild.
slightly above normal, and northeasterlies predomin- Some eastern areas recorded mean temperatures 2
ated i n the north. Rainfall was below normal, apart to 3°C above average due t o the frequent oceurenceNew Zealand Weather 3 9
40 New Zealand Weather
of foehn type winds this month. I t was sunnier than in t h e s o u t h o f t h e N o r t h Island, a n d between
normal i n most areas i n the n o r t h and east, while normal a n d 1 ° C below n o r m a l elsewhere. Eastern
southern a n d western areas h a d less sunshine than districts had above average sunshine, w i t h a l l other
usual. areas having n o r m a l o r slightly less t h a n normal
sunshine.
Northern a n d eastern areas o f the N o r t h Island
were cool and d r y i n December, while the rest o f Acknowledgements
the country was cold and wet. Westerly winds were Thanks are due to the New Zealand Meteorological
frequent, w i t h pressures high t o the north and l o w Service f o r providing t h e climatological data, a n d
to t h e south. R a i n f a l l was variable, w i t h northern to D r . A . B . M u llan f o r compiling the section o n
and eastern districts o f b o t h Islands d r i e r t h a n the Southern Oscillation a n d i t s effects o n t h e
usual, and higher rainfalls than normal i n the west. weather.
Temperatures were between 1 and 2°C below normal B. CULLEN
RECENT PUBLICATIONS OF THE NEW ZEALAND
METEOROLOGICAL SERVICE
1. M E T E R O R O L O G I C A L OFFICE NOTES 3. T E C H N I C A L I N F O R M AT I O N CIRCULARS
No. 102. Revfeim, K. J. A., 1982: Simplified relation- No. 187. N.Z. Meteorological Service, 1982: Weather
ships f o r estimating solar radiation o n any flat modification ( i n c l u d e s r e p r i n t o f r e v i e w o f
surface. Reprinted f r o m Solar Energy, 28: 504- present status o f weather modification prepared
517. by W M 0 ) .
No. 105. Rascoe, R. M . , 1982: T h e flood o f 1 A p r i l No. 188. C o lien, B . , 1982: H e a v y rainfall i n t h e
1975 i n t h e Wairau River, Marlborough, N e w Wairarapa, N e w Zealand, May-June 1981.
Zealand. Reprinted f r o m Weather and Climate,
2(2): 17-21. 4. T E C H N I C A L NOTES
No. 247. Laing, A . K . , 1982: A numerical ocean
2. MISCELLANEOUS P U B L I C AT I O N S wave forecasting • model f o r t h e Southwest
No. 1 0 1 . N . Z . Meteorological Service, 1 9 8 2 : I n - Pacific.
structions f o r meteorological observations a t No. 248. Purnell, D . , 1982: A data analysis scheme
reporting stations. for numerical weather prediction.
No. 115(11). Thompson, C . S., 1982: T h e weather No. 249. Gordon, N . D . and Purnell, D . K . , 1982:
and climate o f the Wairarapa region. The aviation grid wind and temperature system.
No. 151 (1982). N.Z. Meteorological Service, 1982: No. 250. Laing, A . K . , 1982: Wa v e model assess-
Meteorological services f o r shipping: G e n e r a l ment: ( 1 ) Comparison w i t h s h i p reports.
information.
No. 2 5 1 . H u r n a r d , S . M . , 1 9 8 2 : Climatological
No. 171. N . Z . Meteorological Service: T h e c l i m - aspects o f grape growing in N e w Zealand. First
atologies o f N e w Zealand airports. published i n Industry Study a n d Development
(10) Gisbome Airport. 1982. Plan 1978, b y t h e W i n e I n s t i t u t e o f N e w
(11) Ohakea Aerodrome. 1982. Zealand.
(12) K a i t a i a Airport. 1982. No. 252. Heine. Richard W. , 1982: Prediction o f
(13) Paraparaumu Airport. 1982. minimum a i r a n d grass temneratures a t A l e x -
(14) R o t o r u a Airport. 1982. andra, Central Otago, spring 1981, using radi-
(15) Westport Airport. 1982. ation measurements.
(16) Blenheim Airport. 1982.
(17) Tauranga Airport. 1982. No. 2 5 4 . G o r d o n , N . D . , 1982: F u r t h e r experl-
(18) Ti m a r u Airport. 1982. mentation w i t h a quasi-three-dimensional squall
(19) Whenuapai Aerodrome. 1982. line model.
(20) N a p i e r Airport. 1982.
(21) Palmerston North Airport. 1982. 5. OTHER P U B L I C AT I O N S O F N E W Z E A L A N D
(22) Whangarei Airport. 1982. METEOROLOGICAL SERVICE S TA F F
(23) Oamaru Airport. 1982. Goulter, S . W . , 1 9 8 2 : I s December Canterbury's
(24) Ta u p o Airport. 1982. wettest month? Weather a n d Climate, 2 ( 2 ) :
(25) Wanganui Airport. 1982. 25-27.
No. 174. Reid, S. J. and Penney, A . C., 1982: U p p e r Revfeim, K . J . A . , 1982: T h o s e illusive decimal
level wind frequencies and mean speeds for New points, Weather and Climate, 2 ( 2 ) : 4-8.
Zealand and Pacific Island stations. K. JOHNSONYou can also read
