Message

The research theme of our laboratory (meteorological laboratory) is atmospheric dynamics and middle atmospheric science. Atmospheric dynamics is a theoretical field of studying atmospheric phenomena using equations such as fluid mechanics and thermodynamics. The middle atmosphere refers to the atmosphere in the height region from ~10 km to ~100 km (stratosphere, mesosphere, and lower thermosphere). Here, unlike the troposphere, vigorous convection does not occur. However, the middle atmosphere is extremely dynamical region, in which various atmospheric waves originating from the troposphere interact with the mean flow and/or other waves with different scales, or generate secondary waves through instabilities. The middle atmosphere is attracting attention not only because it includes the ozone layer that protects surface life from harmful solar ultraviolet radiation, but also because it is an important area that influences tropospheric phenomena and surface climate downward through its general circulation. We conduct high-resolution observations with a high-power atmosphere radar installed in the Antarctic (the PANSY radar), perform high-resolution model simulations using super computers, and theoretically interpret the atmospheric phenomena that are included with a hierarchical structure in the big data produced by the observations and simulations. While placing the middle atmosphere as our axis, we are conducting advanced research on dynamics of the whole "neutral" atmosphere from the troposphere up to the lower thermosphere that is the target of meteorology.

News

Jan. 22, 2024
News
Prof. Sato was featured in the web magazine of the Graduate School of Science (Meet Researchers in Sciences in "The Rigakubu News").
Jan. 18, 2024
News
Ms. Haruka Okui was awarded 14th (FY2023) JSPS Ikushi Prize.
Jan. 15, 2024
Publication
A paper entitled "Numerical simulation of orographic gravity waves observed over Syowa Station. Part 1: Wave propagation and breaking in the troposphere and lower stratosphere" by M. Kohma, et al. was accepted for publication in J. Geophys. Res. (https://doi.org/10.1029/2023JD039425)
Dec. 27, 2023
Publication
A paper entitled "Characteristics and Mechanism of Interhemispheric Coupling in Austral Winter Revealed by Long-term Reanalysis Data for the Whole Middle Atmosphere" by D. Koshin, et al. was accepted for publication in J. Geophys. Res. (https://doi.org/10.1029/2023JD039687)
June 15, 2023
Publication
A paper entitled "A Comparison of Stratospheric Gravity Waves in a High-Resolution General Circulation Model with 3-D Satellite Observations" by H. Okui, et al. was accepted for publication in J. Geophys. Res. (https://doi.org/10.1029/2023JD038795)
June 1, 2023
Publication
A paper entitled "Interhemispheric Coupling Study by Observations and Modelling (ICSOM): Concept, Campaigns, and Initial Results" by K. Sato, et al. was accepted for publication in J. Geophys. Res. (https://doi.org/10.1029/2022JD038249)
Mar. 31, 2023
News
Mr. Dai Koshin obtained his PhD from The University of Tokyo.
Mar. 1, 2023
Publication
A paper entitled "Kelvin-Helmholtz Billows in the Troposphere and Lower Stratosphere Detected by the PANSY Radar at Syowa Station in the Antarctic" by Y. Minamihara, K. Sato, & M. Tsutsumi was accepted for publication in J. Geophys. Res. (https://doi.org/10.1029/2022JD036866)
Nov 3, 2022
News
Prof. Sato was featured in the web magazine of the Graduate School of Science ("Rigaku-ru").
Sep 30, 2022
Publication
A paper entitled "Characteristics of the Intraseasonal Oscillation in the Equatorial Mesosphere and Lower Thermosphere Region Revealed by Satellite Observation and Global Analysis by the JAGUAR Data Assimilation System" by D. Koshin, M. Kohma, and K. Sato was accepted for publication in J. Geophys. Res. (https://doi.org/10.1029/2022JD036816)
May 13, 2022
News
Prof. Sato was elected as a JpGU fellow.
May 1, 2022
Publication
A paper entitled "Contribution of gravity waves to universal vertical wavenumber (~m-3) spectra revealed by a gravity-wave-permitting general circulation model" by H. Okui, K. Sato, and S. Watanabe was accepted for publication in J. Geophys. Res. (https://doi.org/10.1029/2021JD036222)
Apr. 5, 2022
Publication
A paper entitled "Dynamical analysis of tropopause folding events in the coastal region of Antarctica" by M. Kohma, M. Mizukoshi, and K. Sato was accepted for publication in J. Clim. (https://doi.org/10.1175/JCLI-D-21-0858.1)
Apr. 1, 2022
News
The web magazine of the Graduate School of Science ("Rigaku-ru") published an article by Prof. Sato and others explaining the research of Dr. Syukuro Manabe, 2021 Nobel Laureate in Physics.
Mar. 31, 2022
News
Mr. Yuichi Minamihara obtained his PhD from The University of Tokyo.
Mar. 18, 2022
Publication
A paper entitled "An update on the 4D-LETKF data assimilation system for the whole neutral atmosphere" by D. Koshin, K. Sato, M. Kohma, and S. Watanabe was accepted for publication in Geosci. Model Dev. Koshin-kun, Congratulations! (https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-15-2293-2022)
Dec. 22, 2021
Publication
A paper entitled "A new three-dimensional residual flow theory and its application to Brewer–Dobson circulation in the middle and upper stratosphere" by K. Sato, T. Kinoshita, Y. Matsushita, and M. Kohma was accepted for publication in J. Atmos. Sci. (https://doi.org/10.1175/JAS-D-21-0094.1)
Sep. 9, 2021
Publication
A paper entitled "Roles of Rossby Waves, Rossby-Gravity Waves, and Gravity Waves Generated in the Middle Atmosphere for Interhemispheric Coupling" by R. Yasui, K. Sato, and Y. Miyoshi was accepted for publication in J. Atmos. Sci. Yasui-kun, Congratulations! (https://doi.org/10.1175/JAS-D-21-0045.1)
Aug. 21, 2021
Publication
A paper entitled "Formation of a mesospheric inversion layer and the subsequent elevated stratopause associated with the major stratospheric sudden warming in 2018/19" by H. Okui, K. Sato, et al. was accepted for publication in J. Geophys. Res. Okui-san, Congratulations! (https://doi.org/10.1029/2021JD034681)
May. 6, 2021
Publication
A paper entitled "Weakening of PMWE and Turbulent Energy Dissipation Rates after a Stratospheric Sudden Warming in the Southern Hemisphere in 2019" by M. Kohma, K. Sato, K. Nishimura, and M. Tsutsumi was accepted for publication in Geophys. Res. Lett. (https://doi.org/10.1029/2021GL092705)
Apr. 28, 2021
News
Prof. Kaoru Sato received the Medal with Purple Ribbon (Shiju Housho).
Apr. 27, 2021
Publication
A paper entitled "Interannual Variability of Stratospheric Final Warming in the Southern Hemisphere and its Tropospheric Origin" by Hirano, S., M. Kohma, and K. Sato was accepted for publication in J. Clim. (https://doi.org/10.1175/JCLI-D-20-0945.1)
Mar. 5, 2021
News
Ms. Haruka Okui received the research encouragement award for her master thesis from Graduate School of Science, The University of Tokyo. Congratulations!
Nov. 14, 2020
News
Mr. Yuichi Minamihara and Ms. Haruka Okui were received "Matsuno Award" from the Meteorological Society of Japan. Congratulations Minamihara-kun and Okui-san!
Nov. 13, 2020
News
A paper entitled "Application of deep learning to estimate atmospheric gravity wave parameters in reanalysis data sets" by Matsuoka, D., S. Watanabe, K. Sato, et al. was introduced as Research Spotlight in Eos of AGU.
Oct. 13, 2020
Publication
A paper entitled "Characterizing quasi-biweekly variability of the Asian monsoon anticyclone using potential vorticity and large-scale geopotential field" by Amemiya, A. and K. Sato was accepted for publication in Atmos. Chem. Phys. (https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-2020-424)
Oct. 13, 2020
Publication
A paper entitled "Application of deep learning to estimate atmospheric gravity wave parameters in reanalysis data sets" by Matsuoka, D., S. Watanabe, K. Sato, et al. was published in Geophys Res. Lett. (https://doi.org/10.1029/2020GL089436)
July 17, 2020
Publication
A paper entitled "A statistical analysis of the energy dissipation rate estimated from the PMWE spectral width in the Antarctic" by Kohma, M., K. Sato, K. Nishimura, M. Tsutsumi, and T. Sato was accepted for publication in J. Geophys Res. (https://doi.org/10.1029/2020JD032745)
June 15, 2020
Publication
A paper entitled "Intermittency of Gravity Waves in the Antarctic troposphere and lower stratosphere revealed by the PANSY radar observation" by Minamihara, Y., K. Sato, and M. Tsutsumi was accepted for publication in J. Geophys Res. Yuichi, congratulations! (https://doi.org/10.1029/2020JD032543)
May 15, 2020
Publication
A paper entitled "An ensemble Kalman filter data assimilation system for the whole neutral atmosphere" by Koshin, D., K. Sato, K. Miyazaki, and S. Watanabe was accepted for publication in Geoscientific Model Development. Dai, congratulations! (https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-2019-252)
Apr. 30, 2020
News
Mr. Ryosuke Yasui obtained his PhD from The University of Tokyo.
Mar. 4, 2020
Publication
A paper entitled "Characteristics and sources of gravity waves in the summer stratosphere based on long-term and high-resolution radiosonde observations" by Okui, H. and K. Sato was accepted for publication in SOLA. Okui-san, congratulations! (https://doi.org/10.2151/sola.2020-011)
Feb. 14, 2020
News
Mr. Dai Koshin was received "Matsuno Award" from the Meteorological Society of Japan. Congratulations Koshin-kun!
Feb. 12, 2020
Publication
A paper by Matsushita, Y. et al., entitled "Relation Between the Interannual Variability in the Stratospheric Rossby Wave Forcing and Zonal Mean Fields Suggesting an Interhemispheric Link in the Stratosphere" was accepted in Ann. Geophys. (https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-38-319-2020).
Sep. 13, 2019
News
Mr. Soichiro Hirano obtained his PhD from The University of Tokyo.
Aug. 20, 2019
Publication
A paper by Kohma, M. and Sato, K., entitled "A diagnostic equation for tendency of lapse-rate-tropopause heights and its application" was published in J. Atmos. Sci. (https://doi.org/10.1175/JAS-D-19-0054.1).
Apr. 5, 2019
Publication
A paper by Sato, K. and S. Hirano, entitled "The climatology of the Brewer–Dobson circulation and the contribution of gravity waves" was published in Atmos. Chem. Phys. (https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-19-4517-2019).
Feb. 25, 2019
Publication
A paper by Kohma M. et al., entitled "Estimate of turbulent energy dissipation rate from the VHF radar and radiosonde observations in the Antarctic" was published in J. Geophys. Res.-Atmos. (https://doi.org/10.1029/2018JD029521).
Oct. 2, 2018
News
Dr. Ryosuke Shibuya received Early Carrier Researcher Poster Award at the 6th SPARC General Assembly for a poster presentation corresponding to a part of his PhD thesis. [photo]
Sep. 14, 2018
News
Mr. Arata Amemiya obtained his PhD from The University of Tokyo.
July 5, 2018
Publication
A paper by Minamihara, Y. et al., entitled "Statistical characteristics of gravity waves with near-inertial frequencies in the Antarctic troposphere and lower stratosphere observed by the PANSY radar" was accepted in J. Geophys. Res.-Atmos. (https://doi.org/10.1029/2017JD028128).
July 4, 2018
Publication
Two papers by Sato, K., R. Yasui, and Y. Miyoshi entitled "The momentum budget in the stratosphere, mesosphere, and lower thermosphere Part 1: Contribution of different wave types and in situ generation of Rossby waves" and by Yasui, R., K. Sato and Y. Miyoshi entitled "The momentum budget in the stratosphere, mesosphere, and lower thermosphere Part 2: The in situ generation of gravity waves" were accepted in J. Atmos. Sci. (https://doi.org/10.1175/JAS-D-17-0336.1, https://doi.org/10.1175/JAS-D-17-0337.1).
June 22, 2018
Publication
A paper by Amemiya, A., and K. Sato, entitled "A two-dimensional dynamical model for the subseasonal variability of the Asian monsoon anticyclone" was accepted in J. Atmos. Sci. (https://doi.org/10.1175/JAS-D-17-0208.1).
June 6, 2018
News
Prof. Kaoru Sato delivered Atmospheric Sciences Section Distinguished Lecture at the 15th Annual Meeting of Asia Oceania Geoscience Society (AOGS).
May 17, 2018
News
Prof. Kaoru Sato received Fujiwhara Award of the Meteorological Society of Japan for planning and promotion of the Program of the Antarctic Syowa MST/IS radar and for development of the middle atmospheric dynamics.
May 5, 2018
Publication
A paper by Nishiyama, T., et al. entitled "Simultaneous observations of polar mesosphere winter echoes and cosmic noise absorptions in a common volume by the PANSY radar (69.0S, 39.6E)" was published in J. Geophys. Res. Space Physics (https://doi.org/10.1029/2017JA024717).
Mar. 20, 2018
News
Dr. Ryosuke Shibuya received the research encouragement award of Graduate School of Science, The University of Tokyo.
Oct. 31, 2017
News
Mr. Ryosuke Shibuya obtained his PhD from The University of Tokyo.
Oct. 14, 2017
Publications
A paper by Thurairajah, B. et al., entitled "Simultaneous observation of gravity waves at PMC altitude from AIM/CIPS experiment and PANSY radar over Syowa (69°S, 39°E)" was published in J. Atmos. Sol.-Terr. Phys. (10.1016/j.jastp.2017.10.006).
Oct. 14, 2017
Publications
A paper by Williams, P.D. et al., entitled "A census of atmospheric variability from seconds to decades" was accepted in Geophys. Res. Lett. (10.1002/2017GL075483)
Oct. 3, 2017
Publications
A paper by Hayashi, Y. and K. Sato, entitled "Formation of two-dimensional circulation in response to unsteady wave forcing in the middle atmosphere" was accepted in J. Atmos. Sci. (10.1175/JAS-D-16-0374.1).
Aug. 04, 2017
Publications
A paper by Tsutsumi, M. et al. entitled "Characteristics of mesosphere echoes over Antarctica obtained using PANSY and MF radars" was published in SOLA (10.2151/sola.13A-004).
May 01, 2017
News
Dr. Yukari Sumi joined our laboratory as a Project Researcher.
Apr. 21, 2017
Publications
A paper by Shibuya, R. et al. entitled "Quasi 12 h inertia-gravity waves in the lower mesosphere observed by the PANSY radar at Syowa Station (39.6°E, 69.0°S)" was published in Atmos. Chem. Phys. (doi:10.5194/acp-17-6455-2017). Congratulations, Shibuya-kun!
Apr. 01, 2017
News
Homepage renewed.
Jan. 03, 2017
Publications
A paper by Sato, K. et al. entitled "Frequency spectra and vertical profiles of wind fluctuations in the summer Antarctic mesosphere revealed by MST radar observations" was published in J. Geophys. Res. Atmos. (doi:10.1002/2016JD025834).
Aug. 25, 2016
News
Dr. Masashi Kohma received the "Yamamoto Award" by the Meteorological Society of Japan on "A study on the dynamics of polar tropopausal cloud appearance"
July 12, 2016
Publications
A paper by Hirano, S., et al. entitled "A three-dimensional analysis on the role of atmospheric waves in the climatology and interannual variability of stratospheric final warming in the Southern Hemisphere" was published in J. Geophys. Res. Atmos. (doi:10.1002/2015JD024481).
June 14, 2016
Publications
A paper by Tsuchiya, C., et al. entitled "MJO-related intraseasonal variation of gravity waves in the Southern Hemisphere tropical stratosphere revealed by high-resolution AIRS observations" was published in J. Geophys. Res. Atmos. (doi:10.1002/2015JD024463).
May 26, 2016
Publications
A paper by Shibuya, R., et al. entitled "A Grid Transformation Method for a Quasi-Uniform, Circular Fine Region Using the Spring Dynamics" was published in J. Met. Soc. Japan (10.2151/jmsj.2016-022).
May 05, 2016
Publications
A paper by Sato, K., et al. entitled "Climatology and ENSO-related interannual variability of gravity waves in the Southern Hemisphere subtropical stratosphere revealed by high-resolution AIRS observations" was published in J. Geophys. Res. Atmos. (doi:10.1002/2015JD024462).
Apr. 18, 2016
Publications
A paper by Minamihara, Y., et al. entitled "Characteristics of Vertical Wind Fluctuations in the Lower Troposphere at Syowa Station in the Antarctic Revealed by the PANSY Radar" was published in SOLA (10.2151/sola.2016-026).
Jan. 29, 2016
Publications
A paper by Amemiya, A., and K. Sato et al. entitled "A New Gravity Wave Parameterization Including Three-Dimensional Propagation" was published in J. Met. Soc. Japan (10.2151/jmsj.2016-013).
Jan. 12, 2016
Publications
A paper by Yasui, R., et al. entitled "Seasonal and Interannual Variation of Mesospheric Gravity Waves Based on MF Radar Observations over 15 Years at Syowa Station in the Antarctic" was published in SOLA (10.2151/sola.2016-010).