The Mitsui & Co. Environment Fund
Introduction to Grant Projects
Toshimasa Ohara, Director of Center for Regional Environmental Research, National Institute for Environmental Studies
Evaluation of wide-area environmental impact of radioactive contamination, using multi-media modeling and strategic monitoring
Research grant
- Project Description
This research investigates wide-area environmental radioactive contamination mechanisms using multi-media combined modelling, and also conducts strategic, long-term environmental monitoring aimed at understanding trends over time. Additionally, the environmental impact of radioactive contamination will be evaluated through a combination of modelling and monitoring. Specifically, in order to investigate the wide-area environmental dynamics of radioactive materials, a combined atmospheric and ocean-based multi-media model will be developed. Environmental monitoring that has already been launched will be strategically upgraded, and researchers will grasp trends in radioactive contamination over the long term, and gain an understanding of the actual situation with wide-area contamination through collaboration with the Regional Environmental Research Center and through participatory monitoring with members of the community. Using this modeling and monitoring, the researchers will evaluate the environmental impact on the Kanto region.
- Fields
- Preservation of surface soil and forests
- Grant year
- FY2011 Research Grants
- Grant term
- 2 years
October 2011 - September 2013
- Grant amount
- 16,304,000 yen
- Activity region
- Kanto, South Tohoku Region
Overview of the Organization
- Representative
- Toshimasa Ohara, Director of Center for Regional Environmental Research
- Profile
- Specialist fields
Atmospheric and Environmental Sciences
Affiliated academic societies
Japan Society for Atmospheric Environment, The Meterological Society of Japan, Japan Association of Aerosol Science and Technology, American Geophysical Union
Background
Completed a doctorate in Sanitary Engineering at the Hokkaido University Graduate School of Engineering in March 1982 (Engineering Doctorate). Joined his current role in April 2011, following roles as Researcher (and later Principal Researcher) at the Institute of Behavioral Sciences, Professor at the Shizuoka University Faculty of Engineering, General Research Officer (and later Laboratory Director) at the National Institute for Environmental Studies. Held additional post as Professor at Tsukuba University Graduate School of Life and Environment Sciences from April 2007 (partner graduate school) - WEB site
- http://www.nies.go.jp/gaiyo/bunya/area.html
- Collaborating researchers
- National Institute for Environmental Studies, Principal Researcher Atsushi Tanaka, Laboratory Director Noriyuki Suzuki and Researcher Yu Morino; National Institute of Public Health, Director, Naoki Kunigita, Senior Chief Research Officer Mari Asami; University of Tokyo Professor Yuichi Moriguchi (above list includes core members only)
- Research record
-
- (1) Morino, Y., T. Ohara, and M. Nishizawa : Atmospheric behavior, deposition, and budget of radioactive materials from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant in March 2011, Geophysical Research Letter, 38, L00G11, doi:10.1029/2011GL048689, 2011.
- (2) Toshimasa Ohara, Yu Morino, Atsushi Tanaka: Study of the movement and health impact of radioactivity released from the Fukushima the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant 60, 292-299, 2011.
- (3) Saikawa, E., J. Kurokawa, M. Takigawa, J. Borken-Kleefeld, D. L. Mauzerall, L. W. Horowitz, and T. Ohara: The impact of China's vehicle emissions on regional air quality in 2000 and 2020: a scenario analysis, Atmos. Chem. Phys., 11, 9465-9484, 2011.