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
The main goal of Climate Variation Research Program (CVRP) is twofold: one is to understand key mechanisms of natural climate variations such as ENSO, IOD, and climate regime shifts and the other is to study predictability of those phenomena based on the former knowledge. Our research field is global by nature; yet current efforts are being devoted to enhancing our level of understanding of ocean climate variations, particularly in the Asia-Pacific sector. In addition to intensive climate data analyses, we adopt ocean and atmosphere models with various degrees of freedom in our research activities. CVRP is also interested in interdisciplinary climate application studies based on the basic knowledge accumulated so far in order to satisfy societal needs. We invite applications in the following three research areas:
1) As a fruitful collaboration with EU research groups, we developed our SINTEX-F coupled model, which greatly contributed not only to recent IOD prediction but also to short-term climate predictability studies, particularly on ENSO. The prediction/predictability research using the SINTEX-F coupled model and other coupled models needs to be developed, together with activities devoted to model physics improvement.
2) So-called downscaling has become an important research subject for regional climate studies, which has a potential to provide detailed climate information needed by local people. CVRP now plans to develop this line of research activities, together with the ongoing global predictability experiments.
3) As one of core research activities of CVRP, we have an extended Japan Coastal Oceans Predictability Experiment (JCOPE) project. Started from the Kuroshio variability studies, the achievement of JCOPE project has gradually developed into a sophisticated prediction system for the oceanic phenomena including an advanced wind-wave model. In conjunction with downscaling research activities mentioned above, we are going to develop this system further to make it as an oceanic environment prediction system that is to be coupled to a regional AGCM.
Qualification for application
Candidates should be those who majored in graduate course in such fields as physical oceanography, meteorology, geophysical fluid dynamics, climate dynamics or related fields in physics. As to the application to item 1, it is highly desirable that he/she is familiar with using an ocean-atmosphere coupled model, in addition to familiarity with the basic climate data analysis methods. Reasonable command of spoken and written English is required in our CVRP program to communicate on a daily basis with colleagues from various nations.
Successful candidates will be expected to be involved in CVRP as core members of the ongoing and/or new research activities and be expected to participate actively in international collaborations for enhancing prediction skills for natural climate/ocean variability.
(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
Scientists who have sufficient background and experience on the following fields, or Technical Scientists who have sufficient experience in handling and programming of models relevant to these 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 Éø-É¡ 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 aims at modeling and observational research on the variability of atmospheric composition including both long-lived greenhouse gases such as CO2, CH4 and N2O, and short-lived atmospheric constituents such as O3, aerosols, and their precursors, that cause climate and air quality change directly or indirectly. In this year, we call for Research Scientists who are motivated to research on climate effects and/or temporal and spatial variability of ozone and aerosols, either modeling of observational research techniques. Applications of scientists from foreign countries are highly welcome.
Qualification for application
In order to promote the above studies, we call for Research Scientists who have fundamental knowledge on atmospheric chemistry and have interests in global chemical transport/climate modeling of hemispherical/regional air quality change, modeling of aerosol nucleation and growth, and atmospheric chemistry observation/satellite data analysis in Asia.
1) Global and regional scale chemical transport/climate modeling
Using a global chemical transport/climate model, climate sensitivity experiment of ozone and aerosols, or analysis of contributions of intercontinental transport, intracontinental transboundary transport, and local photochemical production at various area of the world and Asia.
2) Modeling of aerosol nucleation and growth
Analysis of gas to aerosol nucleation process by means of molecular dynamics, or incorporation of aerosol growth process into a chemical transport model considering the change of mixing state and surface characteristics.
3) Field observation on atmospheric chemistry /satellite data analysis
Field observation of gas and aerosols at selected sites in Japan and Asia, development/improvement of instruments for observations/experiments, or data retrieval/analysis of air quality satellite sensors.
(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 ecosystems and the atmosphere in wide climatic zones in the Asian-Pacific region. The research also involves modeling of material cycles in the oceans involving marine ecosystem.
We are facing the new scientific problem of how ecosystems respond to rapid environmental changes such as increasing CO2 and global warming, and how to accurately predict and assess their response. The Framework Convention on the Climate Change aims to predict, assess and prevent the negative effects of climate change on ecosystems. To achieve these objectives, further development is required for modeling of ecosystem structure and function, and for the integration of such models to atmosphere and ocean circulation modeling.
An overall goal of this research program is to develop models of terrestrial and marine ecosystems and to simulate them with emphasis on carbon cycle.
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 by using the remote sensing. Modeling of interactions between marine ecosystems and the atmosphere and modeling and observation of spatial and temporal dynamics of ecosystem parameters will be also expected.
At present we have three research groups in our program as follows:
1) Marine biological process modeling group
Modeling of material cycles in the oceans involving marine ecosystem, and having knowledge for marine biological processes.
2) Ecosystem Spatial Observation and Modeling group
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) Ecosystem - Atmosphere interaction modeling group
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.
(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 this Program is to develop advanced climate models which have a capability to explore new arena of climate simulations by fully utilizing the Earth Simulator which is one of the highest performance computers in the world. The Program has the following three targets of development:
1) Next-generation atmosphere and ocean models, where an atmospheric general circulation model (AGCM) with a mesh-size less than 5km to treat meso-scale convective system explicitly, and an ocean general circulation model (OGCM) with a mesh-size around 10km to resolve mesoscale ocean eddies are developed.
2) Integrated Earth system model, where an integrated Earth system model (ESM) including physical climate processes, biogeochemical processes and eco-dynamical processes is developed cooperating with other Research Programs. A new phase of the development has started in FY2007 as a part of the MEXT project, Innovative Program of Climate Change Projection for the 21th Century.
3) Ocean data assimilation systems, where four-dimensional variational data assimilation systems, which incorporate satellite and in-situ observational data into numerical models, are developed. The systems 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 be those who majored 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. |