A research station in the Central Otago wilderness is celebrating its German connections.
The German deputy ambassador to New Zealand Thomas Henzschel visited the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA) site at Lauder yesterday, to learn of its 25-year partnership with German professor Gunther Seckmeyer, who is now based at the Leibniz University of Hanover in Germany.
Dr Seckmeyer worked with atmospheric research scientist Dr Richard Mckenzie, of Alexandra, from the mid 1990s, and often visits the site.
Atmospheric scientist Ben Liley said one of the important discoveries of the joint efforts was that New Zealand's ultraviolet radiation levels were 40 to 50% higher than corresponding latitudes in the northern hemisphere.
Now, Dr Seckmeyer and Mr Liley collaborate on various atmospheric studies, including determining the extent to which different cloud patterns impact on ultraviolet levels, which is important for climate change research.
Dr Henzschel said co-operative projects like this were important, as Germany was New Zealand's largest non-English speaking scientific-partner country.
"We take advantage of expertise on both sides.''
NIWA and Leibniz University created a memorandum of understanding to formalise the collaboration, which it is hoped will be signed by the president of the Leibniz University in Hanover, in the presence of the New Zealand ambassador, this year.
