Kaoru Sato's Laboratory | Atmospheric Physics Lab, Atmospheric and Oceanic Science Group, Department of Earth and Planetary Science, Graduate School of Science, The University of Tokyo

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

List of past articles

June 5, 2024: Publication; A paper entitled "Roles of gravity waves in preconditioning of a stratospheric sudden warming" by H. Okui, et al. was accepted for publication in J. Geophys. Res. (https://doi.org/10.1029/2023JD038795)

June 3, 2024: Publication; A paper entitled " A study of zonal wavenumber 1 Rossby-gravity wave using long-term reanalysis data for the whole neutral atmosphere" by H. Sekido, et al. was selected as JMSJ Highlights.

May 27, 2024: Publication; A paper entitled " A study of zonal wavenumber 1 Rossby-gravity wave using long-term reanalysis data for the whole neutral atmosphere" by H. Sekido, et al. was accepted for publication in J. Meteorol. Soc. Jpn.

Mar. 31, 2024: News; Ms. Haruka Okui obtained her PhD from The University of Tokyo.

Mar. 31, 2024: News; Ms. Haruka Okui received the research encouragement award for her PhD thesis from Graduate School of Science, The University of Tokyo. Congratulations!

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).