Tsunamis are unique in their destructive power, but they share many features with other ocean waves. Learn how the two wave types differ, and how ocean waves of all kinds affect New Zealand’s ...
‘Wave’ is a common term for a number of different ways in which energy is transferred: In electromagnetic waves, energy is transferred through vibrations of electric and magnetic fields. In sound ...
All waves behave in certain characteristic ways. They can undergo refraction, reflection, interference and diffraction. These basic properties define the behaviour of a wave – anything that ...
Seeing, hearing, feeling warmth, surfing, tuning the radio, using a cellphone – these and many more activities involve waves. But what is a wave? In this article, we get to grips with the ...
Many of us imagine tsunamis as tall, surf-like waves, but in the deep ocean, their amplitude is actually quite small. Tsunamis get much taller as they approach the continental shelf and ...
So you want to surf a tsunami? In this article, you’ll learn why that’s not possible – and how dangerous it would be to try. Tsunamis have much more energy than a surf wave, so they last for ...
In this activity, students use an interactive or paper-based Venn diagram to illustrate the key similarities and differences between tsunami waves and surf waves. By the end of this activity ...
In this recorded professional learning session, Lyn Rogers and guest Aliki Weststrate from GNS Science explore some of the science involved in building our understandings of natural hazards ...
Dr Rob Bell, a NIWA scientist, studies storm surges and their impact on New Zealand coasts. A storm surge is a very long wave formed by low-pressure storms over the ocean. Because they are ...
In this activity, students use a shallow tray of water to demonstrate wave generation and behaviour. By the end of this activity, students should be able to: demonstrate how surf and tsunami ...
Dr Willem de Lange is a researcher and senior lecturer in the Department of Earth and Ocean Sciences at the University of Waikato. He studies many aspects of tsunamis and sits on the Tsunami ...
Many resources on the Science Learning Hub explore ideas relating to the Physical World strand in the NZC. This online PLD session recorded on 11 March 2015 shows primary teachers how to navigate ...
Meet geologists James Goff and Scott Nichol as they investigate how ocean pebbles ended up on clifftops in Northland. What was it that caused the sudden change in the landscape? There is evidence ...
In March 2018, JOIDES Resolution, a large scientific research vessel, headed out to sea to research the Hikurangi subduction zone on expedition #375. This article is the first blog by Aliki ...
In this activity, students use a Mexican wave to demonstrate how waves transfer energy and to visualise the wave behaviours of reflection, constructive interference and shoaling. By the end of ...
In March 2018, JOIDES Resolution, a large scientific research vessel, headed out to sea to research the Hikurangi subduction zone on expedition #375. This article is the third blog from Aliki ...
A recorded PD session for primary teachers modelling ways Science Learning Hub resources can support teaching and learning of the Physical World strand in the NZC. This PLD session was based on ...
Position: Senior Lecturer, Earth Sciences, Faculty of Science and Engineering, University of Waikato. Field: Earth and ocean sciences, focus on coastal oceanography. Dr Willem de Lange, an earth ...
All the volcanoes in New Zealand are monitored for activity so that scientists can determine when the next eruption might be. Dr Jan Lindsay introduces us to the monitoring system and how it ...
Position: Principal Scientist, National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA), Hamilton Field: Coastal and estuarine research Dr Rob Bell is a research scientist at NIWA in Hamilton ...
Using super sense technology, changes in the Earth’s structure can be measured without having to actually be there: Motion sensors called seismographs record tremors or small earthquakes that ...
Hands up who thinks of scientists as people in white lab coats who spend their days mixing coloured liquids in test tubes. This view is inaccurate, of course. In reality, every scientist works ...
Position: Coastal scientist, modeller National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA). Field: Wave dynamics, numerical modelling. Dr Richard Gorman is a research scientist at NIWA in ...
This is the slideshow that supports the Exploring natural hazards PLD webinar.
