Scientists striving to create one of New Zealand's most detailed climate studies to date have offered schools in Otago the chance to provide pupils with additional educational opportunities.
A three-year study of sediment in Lake Ohau that began six months ago is aimed at providing a better understanding of how weather systems, like the El Nino climate pattern, drive the country's climate. The scientist behind the study said a new website was now providing a more interactive picture of what was being done.
Victoria University PhD student Heidi Roop said the site, www.lakeohauscience.weebly.com, would show pictures of the field work and let people know when scientists were in the area to conduct work.
"Through the site people will know when we are in the area and what we are doing. I will also put data on the webpage from our weather stations that people can download and play with - a great math activity in classrooms.
"I am eager for folks to get involved and I would love to work with classrooms around Otago.
"I can plan visits while I am in the area but I have also had great success Skype-ing into classrooms."
The website was still "a work in progress" but would be constantly added to and would allow people to send questions or comments directly to her through the contact link.
The study, which aims to record weather patterns over at least a 1000-year period, is being conducted in association with GNS Science.
Ms Roop said initial results would be presented to the American Geophysical Union in San Francisco in December.
They would then be available to view on the website, she said.
At present she was waiting to analyse "thin sections" of sediment from a 6m-high core sample of the lake bed, which would hopefully reveal details of how the weather had changed over the years.
"These thin sections are basically the primary tool I will use to begin counting and understanding sediment deposition in the lake. Thicker layers might mean a time with more rain or snow, while thin years may signify dry years.
"I will take these results and test this hypothesis."
"It is a slow, layer-by-layer process, but this work will eventually result in the most highly resolved climate record in New Zealand.
"The thin sections are just one aspect of the project but will be the first detailed results we have towards understanding the climate history of the region."
