Antarctic groups joining forces

Three research institutions have joined forces to study Antarctica and its influence on the earth.

The National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (Niwa) yesterday joined the Antarctic Research Institute, founded by Victoria University of Wellington and GNS Science in 2006.

Researchers from each organisation had been working in Antarctica for 50 years but the new alliance would strengthen their working relationship, institute director Professor Peter Barrett said.

"In particular, it acknowledges the increasing collaboration in climate research based on information derived from ice and sediment cores," he said.

"It also reflects the synergies of ice, ocean, and climate models in testing scientific findings."

The institute would be able to increase the amount of research it did on Antarctica's influence on the global climate and changes in sea level, he said.

"Niwa's inclusion provides a leading capability in climate and ocean modelling that can be applied to the Antarctic region."

Victoria University professor Tim Naish said the institute would also contribute refined ice sheet behaviour information for the next report to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change in 2013.

- NZPA