New Zealand, U.S. scientists step up joint research into ocean, climate changes

WELLINGTON, Nov. 13 (Xinhua) -- Government scientists from New Zealand and the United States have agreed to expand cooperation in their study of global climate and environment changes.

The U.S National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and New Zealand's National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA) had signed a letter of intent to expand their range of joint research projects, NIWA chief executive John Morgan said in a statement Tuesday.

Cooperative activities in atmospheric, climate and ocean research would contribute to meeting the global environmental challenges facing human society, he said.

Possible future areas of cooperative activity could include ocean acidification, ship time-sharing and deep-sea exploration.

The two organizations were considering cooperating on a voyage in 2014, taking a NOAA remotely operated vehicle in 2014, to look at vulnerable marine ecosystems deep in the Louisville Seamount Chain, northeast of New Zealand, NIWA general manager research Dr. Rob Murdoch said in the statement.

We Recommended People have fun at Angry Birds theme park Sexy models and fancy cars rock Hangzhou auto show Flash mobs dance 'Gangnam Style' Panda travels home and away Students receive cabin attendant training for A320 Exciting performance on motorcycle China's new-type rescue ship to be put into service   Hospital with five-star facilities open Austrian-born panda arrives a 'happy tiger'