A Word from the Director

Eight years have passed since the Center for Climate System Research (CCSR) was established in 1991. Due to the efforts of the staff, students, and visitors, a magnificent advance has been achieved concerning climate studies, and many interesting results have been obtained.

The first thrust of the CCSR is to develop a climate model. The initial version of the climate model has been developed and completed. The CCSR has participated in many international model comparison activities, such as AMIP, AMIP2, and CMIP. We have also conducted transient response experiments for the doubling CO2 with sulfate aerosol effect.

Intensive efforts are being made for the development of future models. For example, a bio-geochemical cycle model in the ocean and an atmospheric chemical transport model have been developed. A new advection scheme is also being developed and implemented in our climate model. The physical processes which take place in the ocean, such as a mixing and diffusion, are being intensively examined.

The second thrust is to understand the behavior of the climate system by combining numerical models and observational data. Many interesting results have been obtained by our staff during these 8 years. For example, the stratospheric QBO phenomenon was first simulated using a 3- dimensional AGCM. Decadal fluctuation in the climate system is well simulated in the climate model, and a mechanism of the fluctuation has been proposed.

Integration between the numerical model and satellite remote sensing is the third thrust of the Center. Much interesting information has been obtained concerning cloud and aerosol properties and their effects on the climate.

Besides conducting research, the CCSR staffs are devoting ourselves to organizing research activity domestically and internationally. We contribute to several WCRP activities, such as TOGA, WOCE, TRMM, GEWEX, GAME, and CLIVAR.

A more detailed explanation of our research is presented in this homepage. We hope it will help you to understand our work, and we welcome your comments. Professor Akimasa Sumi, Director Center for Climate System Research University of Tokyo

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Last revised: Friday, 03-Aug-2001 13:32:38 JST