Typhoon Observation Research Laboratory

The Typhoon Observation Research Laboratory conducts observational studies and data analyses of tropical cyclones, including typhoons, hurricanes and cyclones, as well as the associated heavy rainfall, cloud systems, and precipitation processes. The Laboratory is directed by Prof. Kazuhisa Tsuboki of Nagoya University and Yokohama National University, who pioneered aircraft observations of typhoons and atmospheric rivers in Japan.

The Laboratory consists of four teams: the Airborne Observation Mission Team, the Shipborne Observation Mission Team, the Satellite Observation Analysis Team, and the Observational Aircraft Development Team. The Airborne Observation Mission Team and the Observational Aircraft Development Team are primarily collaborating with Nagoya University, which has extensive experience in airborne typhoon observations. The Shipborne Observation Mission Team operates an observation vessel and is led by the Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC), which has a long history of ship-based observations in tropical oceans. The Satellite Observation Analysis Team is led by Prof. T. Horinouchi of Hokkaido University in collaboration with other partner institutions.

Typhoon Prediction Research Laboratory

The Typhoon Prediction Research Laboratory conducts research and technological development to improve the accuracy of typhoon prediction. The laboratory consists of five teams: the Typhoon Prediction Team, the Disaster Prediction and Impact Assessment Team, the Data Assimilation Team, the Typhoon Climate Change Team, and the Beyond Forecasting Team.

The Typhoon Prediction Team advances the science and technology of typhoon prediction by developing numerical models and deepening understanding of dynamical and physical processes. The Disaster Prediction and Impact Assessment Team collaborates with regional disaster risk reduction laboratories to predict hazards and assess their impacts. The Data Assimilation Team focuses on developing data assimilation techniques and their application to improve typhoon forecasts. The Typhoon Climate Change Team investigates how global warming influences typhoon behavior and examines their climatological characteristics. The Beyond Forecasting Team collaborates with the Typhoon Data Science Laboratory to develop advanced prediction methods, particularly using artificial intelligence (AI).

The participating institutions are as follows: the Atmosphere and Ocean Research Institute (AORI) of the University of Tokyo for the Typhoon Prediction Team; the Kyoto University Disaster Prevention Research Institute (DPRI) and the Institute of Industrial Science (IIS) at the University of Tokyo for the Disaster Prediction and Impact Assessment Team; the Tohoku University for the Data Assimilation Team; JAMSTEC for the Typhoon Climate Change Team; and the Meteorological Research Institute, JAMSTEC, Keio University, and Yokohama National University (YNU) for the Beyond Forecasting Team.

Typhoon Power Generation Development Laboratory

The Typhoon Power Generation System Development Lab conducts research and development on technologies to harness, generate, and store electricity from the vast energy of typhoons by tracking their movement over the ocean. Headed by Associate Professor Taiga Mitsuyuki of Yokohama National University, an emerging leader in maritime systems engineering, the lab comprises four teams: the Power Generation Development Team, the Power Storage and Transmission Development Team, the Typhoon Power Generation Ship Development Team, and the Typhoon Power Generation System Integration Team. In collaboration with the Advanced Chemical Energy Research Center (ACERC) at YNU, the lab focuses on power generation and storage technologies that utilize typhoon energy and advances innovative approaches to support the realization of a carbon-free society from a meteorological perspective. Furthermore, the lab aims to revitalize Japan’s maritime industry by developing ships and marine structures dedicated to typhoon power generation?from concept design to implementation?in partnership with industry and research institutions.

Social Implementation Laboratory

The Social Implementation Promotion Lab examines issues related to social acceptance when research results from the other three TRC labs are introduced into society with a view to promoting their implementation in society. The leader of this lab is Professor Seiji Manabe of YNU. This lab consists of the Coexistence-with-Risk Team, the Industry Partnership Platform Team, the Legal and Social Issues Team, the International Partnership Issues Team and the Education and Outreach Team. In cooperation with the IAS’ Center for Creation of Symbiosis Society with Risk, the Lab forms cooperative structures for risk management related to and proposals of regulations and standards, etc. for the introduction of new energy systems. Recognizing the necessity of obtaining buy-in from the industrial community to build social value, the Lab pursues social implementation through such partnerships while conducting academic inquiry into the creation of social value. In addition, the Lab offers outreach activities on disasters and their prevention related to typhoons and on how to develop knowledge and ideas in the educational field on building a future society.

Regional Disaster Prevention Laboratory

The Regional Disaster Risk Reduction (Regional-DRR) Research Laboratory conducts research to understand typhoon hazards and aims to propose solutions for DRR. Led by Professor Nobuhito Mori of Yokohama National University/Kyoto University, the initiative is managed and undertakes basic research to elucidate mechanisms of wind and water disasters with strong regional characteristics, as well as practical research to address societal problems. Furthermore, the Regional DRR Laboratory promotes DRR for typhoon disasters in the Yokohama and Tokyo regions. Recognizing that education plays a crucial role in realizing new forms of DRR that are integrated with human activities, the laboratory also conducts disaster prevention education.

Data Science Laboratory

The Typhoon Data Science Laboratory applies data science in research and technology development targeting enhanced resilience against typhoon damage, with the goal of achieving a safer, more secure society. To improve the precision of weather forecasting and To leverage the information for risk reduction, and to diversify and personalize applications, the Laboratory examines a wide range of data that can be used to study typhoons. The Lab also applies machine learning to gather, integrate and apply data. In collaboration with organizations such as JAMSTEC, which was a pioneer in advancing machine learning as applied to weather and climate data, the Lab applies cutting-edge machine learning. Also, the Lab works closely with the National Institute of Informatics (NII), an organization with abundant experience and results in disseminating information and coordinating with communities. The Lab also disseminates information about products developed by TRC.