Particulates are liquid or solid particles fine enough to be suspended in the air. They may be naturally formed – for example, in Canterbury, two sources...

Eighty percent of Christchurch’s winter air pollution comes from wood or coal burners and open fires. Only 10% comes from vehicles and 10% from industry. The...

Professor Simon Kingham, from the University of Canterbury, explains how scientists often use sources of data that are collected as part of other studies. Researchers at...

Professor Simon Kingham, from the University of Canterbury, discusses how the amount and type of air pollution you are exposed to depends on where you live,...

Professor Simon Kingham at the Geography Department, University of Canterbury, explains how he has been asked by the government to estimate some of the costs of...

Air behaves in the same way as any other fluid (wē). It flows and spreads into spaces that are not otherwise occupied. Unlike a fluid, however,...

Accuracy of computer modelling depends on multiple sets of data and figuring out mathematical ways to combine them. The air flow models developed at the Geography...

Ururangi is a whetū in the Matariki cluster. It is connected to atmospheric conditions, winds and the sky. Ururangi means ‘winds of the sky’ and is...

In this activity, students investigate exhaust emissions, car use and air quality. By the end of this activity, students should be able to: recognise some of...

The concepts listed just above the overarching concepts reflect learning at New Zealand Curriculum level 1 and show how they may build in sequence to level...

Professor Simon Kingham, from the University of Canterbury, talks about the high level of particulate air pollution in Christchurch, which can cause people who are already...

Every day, adults take around 20,000 breaths of air. Children, who breathe faster, take even more. The air we breathe plays an important role in both...

Associate Professor Simon Kingham, from the University of Canterbury, talks about how there is an association between the level of air pollution and people’s health. It...

Professor Simon Kingham is researching the levels of polluting particulates present in the air in Christchurch. Here, he is using a portable device to measure the...

New Zealand has had a reputation for being ‘clean and green’ – a country of environmental beauty. Compared to many countries in the world, this is...

In this activity, students use images and information to investigate sources and effects of air pollution. By the end of this activity, students should be able...

Most objects on Earth that are visible have particles more tightly packed than air and predictably will sink (totohu) through it. Some objects (like gliders and...

Burning material causes air pollution. The smoke from a fire releases particulates into the environment, which can have a detrimental effect on people’s health. null

Professor Simon Kingham, from the University of Canterbury, discusses how air pollution can be made up of many components. The size and amount of particulates in...

Active travel – using your own energy to get to places – reduces air pollutants and greenhouse gas emissions. It’s good for personal health and for...

We all know that New Zealand – and the world – has a plastic pollution problem. It’s estimated that 4.8–12.7 million metric tonnes of plastic end...

Professor Simon Kingham, from the University of Canterbury, talks about Christchurch’s very high air pollution levels in winter, mainly because people burn wood to keep their...