Marine Ecosystems Research Department - jamstec japan agency ...

Japan Marine Science and Technology Center
Research Activities
Frontier Observational Research System for Global Change
Overview of Research Activities
The Frontier Observational Research System for Global Change (FORSGC) aims to contribute to the realization
of the reliable prediction of global change and the fight against global warming in collaboration with the Earth
Simulator (supercomputer operation) and the Frontier Research System for Global Change (model studies).
Scientists have highlighted the critical need for high-precision, large-scale and long-term observation data in the
development of a next-generation high-resolution integrated global model for predicting global environmental variability.
However, because of a lack of related data, it is essential to establish a new observational research framework
that enables flexible and intensive observational research through the efficient use of existing facilities and
close cooperation with existing research projects, and domestic and overseas research organizations. FORSGC
undertakes observational research aimed at contributing to the elucidation of large-scale (both in time and space) climate
change phenomena, the acquisition of global observational data essential for model studies, and the establishment
of a global observational system for data assimilation. Under the leadership of excellent supervisors, we will
achieve these objectives through the temporary researcher employment system, close cooperation with affiliated
ministries, national research institutes, universities and private sector organizations, and the effective use of observation
technicians and other research support staff.
FORSGC was established in August , and Dr. Nobuo Suginohara assumed office as the third Director-
General in October .
Climate Variations Observational Research Program
The purpose of the Climate Variations Observational
Research Program is to elucidate the mechanism of climate
variations with years to decades time scale,
through observations by three groups in three key
regions; i.e. the warm water pool region of the tropical
Pacific Ocean and the Indian Ocean, the western
boundary current "Kuroshio" in the Pacific Ocean, and
the subsurface and middle layers of the ocean. The first
two groups aim at improving accuracy of model predictions
through the more precise observations than ever.
The third group aims to develop a system that enables
large-scale and continuous observations in order to elucidate
the variation mechanism.
(I) Air-Sea Interaction Group
The Air-Sea Interaction Group aims to elucidate the
air-sea interaction process associated with the climate
variation in the tropical western Pacific Ocean and the
Indian Ocean, mainly focusing on intra-seasonal oscillation,
El Niño and Southern Oscillation and Indian
Ocean Dipole Mode Oscillation. The group consists of
two sub-groups, the Palau sub-group and the Indian
Ocean sub-group.
(a) Palau sub-group
Around the western tropical Pacific (Palau) region,
surface weather observations were undertaken continuously
from November . In this fiscal year, we
intensified the observations targeting water vapor
transport by using a microwave radiometer, etc. In
order to understand the detailed upper air conditions,
we requested the National Weather Service of Palau to
increase the frequency of the routine radiosonde observations
to times a day during IOP (Intensive
Observation Period) in December . During the
IOP, aviation observations using Gulfstream II (Fig.)
were carried out to reveal the structure of the convective
system and its environmental condition over the
warm water pool, south of Palau in collaboration with
the R/V Mirai MR-K cruise. A Doppler lidar and
a cloud radar were also on board of Gulfstream II in
collaboration with CRL (Communication Research
Laboratories). We carried out flight missions twice
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