We have 6 research programs
(Climate Variations, Hydrological Cycle, Atmospheric Composition, Ecosystem Change, Global Warming, Global Environment Modeling).
In the coming fiscal year, we schedule a few positions as follows:
(1) Climate Variations Research Program
Climate Variations Research Program aims at understanding physical processes of various oceanic and atmospheric phenomena related to ocean climate variations in order to contribute to enhancing predictability skills mostly in the Asia-Pacific sector. Efforts will be particularly devoted to enhancing our level of understanding of ocean climate variations from seasons to decades. Among those phenomena are the Kuroshio variations, the climate regime shift in the northern North Pacific, the El Nino/Southern Oscillation and the Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD). Both oceanic and atmospheric data will be intensively analyzed, together with simulations using models of varying degrees of freedom. This program is also interested in interdisciplinary climate application studies based on the knowledge accumulated so far in the program in order to contribute to societal needs. It also promotes basic research on geophysical fluid dynamics related to ocean climate dynamics.
As a leading research group on IOD study, now we plan to accelerate its predictability experiments using SINTEX-F coupled model which has been developed in the framework of EU-FRCGC/Japan collaboration. This time we invite applications to strengthen this collaborative activity for short-term climate predictability studies.
Qualification for application
Candidates should hold a Ph.D. (or equivalent) in such fields as physical oceanography, meteorology, geophysical fluid dynamics, climate dynamics or related fields in physics. It is highly desirable that s/he is familiar with using ECHAM, OPA and OASIS which are the major component codes of SINTEX-F in addition to the familiarity with the basic climate data analysis. Reasonable command of spoken and written English is required in this program to communicate on a daily basis with colleagues from various nations.
Successful candidates will be involved as core members of the ongoing SINTEX-F project in order to study IOD-related climate variations and associated predictability. He/she is also expected to participate actively in the international collaboration pursuing the improvement of climate/ocean prediction skill.
(2) Hydrological Cycle Research Program
Hydrological Cycle Research Program focuses on research activities on the mechanisms of the Asian Monsoon variability and related energy and hydrological cycle, and their impacts on water resources issues. A basic interest includes the issue how the global warming caused by the human activities will and is cause changes in hydrological cycle and its feedback to hydro-climate particularly in Asian-Pacific regions.
As for the diagnostic studies, In addition to existing meteorological, hydrological and land-use data and remote-sensing data (TRMM, NOAA, GMS etc.), we fully utilize special data sets obtained through national and international projects related to WCRP, such as GEWEX Asian Monsoon Experiment (GAME).
As for the modeling studies, we basically utilize GCMs and Regional climate models (RCMs). Modeling and prediction studies are made on precipitation and other water cycle parameters in Asian monsoon climate from diurnal, intraseasonal, seasonal and interannual time scales. Special attention is paid to model development and improvement of the following items:
- Meteorological / hydrological modeling with various horizontal scales from the continental to the cumulus-convection.
- Modeling of various land surface processes, such as soil moisture, permafrost, snow, vegetation, change of land-use.
- Modeling of evaporation and precipitation processes at the state of mixture of various land surfaces and complicated configuration of the ground.
- Modeling of transport of stable water isotope and other material.
- Diagnostic studies of global/continental-scale energy and hydrological cycle by using the global reanalysis data and satellite data
- Cooperation with the global climate model in the Global Environment Modeling Research Program, FRCGC.
- Improving land-atmosphere coupled processes for predicting hydrological cycle and development of next-generation regional climate model.
Qualification for application
Research Scientist who has expertise and sufficient background on the following fields are highly appreciated:
- GCM modeling on global/continental-scale hydrological processes and Asian monsoon hydro-climate
- Diagnostic studies on global/continental-scale energy and hydrological processes and Asian monsoon hydro-climate
- Modeling of land-atmosphere interactions in Asia/Eurasian continent by using regional climate models.
- Improvement of land-atmosphere coupled models for prediction of hydrological cycle and development of next generation regional climate model.
- Organization and parameterization of meso α-γ scale cloud systems by using high-resolution cloud resolving models
- Modeling (Cloud Resolving Model) and data analysis of precipitation/cloud-land surface interactions
(3) Atmospheric Composition Research Program
This program is conducting modeling and observational research on the variability of atmospheric composition including both long-lived greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide and methane, and short-lived atmospheric constituents such as ozone, aerosols, and their precursors, that cause climate and air quality change directly or indirectly. In this year, we call for scientists who are motivated to climate effects and temporal and spatial variability of ozone and aerosols, and modeling of aerosol nucleation and cloud microphysical processes. Applications of scientists from foreign countries are highly welcome.
Qualification for application
In order to promote the above studies, we call for scientists who have fundamental knowledge on atmospheric chemistry and have experience or interests in global or regional scale modeling, modeling of microchemistry of aerosol nucleation and microphysics of cloud, atmospheric chemistry observation and data analysis in Asia.
1) Global of regional scale chemical transport/climate modeling
Using a global or regional chemical transport/climate model, climate sensitivity experiment of ozone and aerosols, analysis of contributions of inter-continental transport, intra-continental trans-boundary transport, and local photochemical production, and development of chemical weather forecast.
2) Modeling of microchemistry of aerosol nucleation and microphysics of could formation
Molecular dynamics of gas to particle formation, model integration of aerosol mixing and change in surface characteristics.
3) Atmospheric chemistry observation/laboratory experiments and data analysis
Atmospheric chemistry observation of gas and aerosols in Asia as well as in Japan, development of instruments for observations/experiments, or laboratory experiments on aerosol nucleation and cloud droplet formation.
(4) Ecosystem Change Research Program
The objective of this Research Program is to investigate the structures and the functions of terrestrial and marine ecosystems with respect to climatic and environmental changes on a global scale. In particular, it focuses on the observation of the spatial distributions of the biome-characteristic species, biomass, NPP, etc., and on the modeling of material flows and interactions within ecosystems and between the ecosystems, and the atmosphere in wide climatic zones in the Asian-Pacific region and also modeling of material cycles in the oceans involving marine ecosystem.
We are facing the scientifically new problem of how the ecosystem responds to the rapid environmental changes such as CO2 increase or global warming, and at the moment we do not know precisely how it can be predicted or assessed. The Framework Convention on the Climate Change aims to predict, assess and prevent the negative effect of climate change to the ecosystems. To achieve these objections, further process is required in modeling of ecosystem structure and function, and in the integration of such models to atmosphere and ocean circulation modeling.
The final goal of this research program is to develop models of terrestrial and marine ecosystems and to simulate them. However, like other research programs, it starts from the preparation and the integration of the basic data base and knowledge in the relevant fields.
Qualification for application
Candidates having an interest in modeling of ecosystem structures and functions. In particular, candidates having an interest in modeling of material cycles in the oceans involving marine ecosystem, modeling of interactions between terrestrial ecosystem and atmosphere, in modeling of ecosystem changes responding climate change, and in modeling and observation of spatial and temporal dynamics of ecosystem parameters.
1) Ecosystem - Atmosphere interaction modeling group
Candidates having an interest in modeling of matter flow in terrestrial ecosystem and in modeling ecosystem-atmosphere interaction and modeling of vegetation dynamics from single tree level to global level, and having basic knowledge for their modeling and simulation.
2) Ecosystem Spatial Observation and Modeling group
Candidate having an interest in remote sensing observations and modeling to improve the understanding and predictability of terrestrial ecosystem spatio-temporal variations and processes, and their relation to a changing global climate system.
3) Marine biological process modeling group
Candidate having an interest in modeling of material cycles in the oceans involving marine ecosystem, and having knowledge for marine biological processes.
(5) Global Warming Research Program
This research program explores the physical, chemical and biological mechanism responsible for global warming and attempt to make quantitative projection of future climate change. It covers three research subjects, i. e., global warming, carbon cycle, and paleoclimate.
1) Global Warming Research
Using a hierarchy of climate models with various complexities and computational resolutions, the future changes of climate and the physical mechanisms, which are responsible for these changes are studied. For example, using general circulation model of the atmosphere with very high computational resolution, we will explore how those phenomena which are important for climate such as tropical and extra-tropical cyclones and El Nino-Southern Oscillation, are affected by global warming.
2) Coupled Modeling Development
Coupled atmosphere-ocean-land model is an extremely important tool used for studying the highly complex climate system. This program will conduct various numerical experiments using the existing coupled model running on the Earth Simulator. The results will be analyzed and compared with the observational data in order to improve understanding the mechanism of the climate and climate variability. Also, the performance of the model, especially its weaknesses will be evaluated in order to improve the model.
3) Paleoclimate Research
Using a hierarchy of climate models with various complexities, the mechanisms which are responsible for past climate changes, in particular, the glacial-interglacial transition of climate are studied. For example, we will explore how the massive continental ice sheets were maintained during the last glacial maximum and why they have been reduced to the modern ice sheets of Greenland and Antarctic Continents. Based on this study we will also attempt to determine the future of these ice sheets.
Qualification for application
The major objective of this program is the predictive understanding of global climate. It seeks those candidates who are interested in modeling study of the research topics identified above. It is desirable that they have basic knowledge of mathematics, physics, chemistry, and biology and the ability to apply them to the study of climate. In particular, the program looks for those who are interested in developing climate models and using them for the study of climate.
(6) Global Environment Modeling Research Program
The mission of the Program is to develop new climate models, global environmental models and ocean data assimilation systems to be run on the Earth Simulator and study climate phenomena by using these models.
1) The development phase of atmospheric and ocean models have been almost completed. The atmospheric model using icosahedral (quasi-uniform) grid system with horizontal mesh size of 5 km or less can simulate tropical cloud clusters and other mesoscale atmospheric systems explicitly without parameterizations. The ocean model using cubic-grid system with horizontal mesh size of 10 km or less can simulate the mesoscale eddies explicitly without parameterizations. Currently, climate phenomena are analyzed by using these models and improvement of the models are also carrying out.
2) Development of models to include new elements such as aerosols effects on clouds, or global carbon cycle, on the basis of currently existing climate models cooperating with other research programs. Development toward this "Integrated Earth System Model" starts from FY2002 as apart of the MEXT new project.
3) In addition to the above described model development, ocean data assimilation systems are also developed in this program. Four-dimensional variational data assimilation systems, which incorporate satellite and in-situ observational data into numerical models, are the subject of increasing interest. These can provide realistic initial conditions for adequate prediction and also useful re-analysis datasets for accurate estimation of ocean circulation processes. A variational data assimilation system using the adjoint method is the most promising approach in view of the fact that the spatio-temporal coverage of the present measurements for mass and velocity fields which is far from complete.
Qualification for application
Candidates should hold a Ph.D. (or equivalent) in such fields as meteorology, physical oceanography, geophysical fluid dynamics, climate dynamics or related fields in physics. They should have experiences for atmosphere/ocean modeling and will be in charge the following items.
1)-2) Model development group
- Development /improvement of "Integrated Earth System Model"
- Development/improvement of the high resolution atmospheric/ocean model
3) Data assimilation group
- Improvement of the global ocean data assimilation system by using the adjoint method and Kalman filter
- Research and development of high resolution data assimilation system utilizing satellite data and in situ data (TRITON/TAO, ARGO),
together with development, processing and analysis of high-quality data set, which enable us to trace the time evolution of El Nino and other phenomena.
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