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Research Institute for Applied Mechanics, Kyushu University Associate Professor Toshihiko Takemura

Estimation of global aerosol emissions by data assimilation, assessment of climatic impact

Research grant

Project Description

Atmospheric aerosols (colloids of fine solid particles or liquid droplets suspended in air) not only have an adverse effect on human respiratory tracts, but also induce climatic change. In this research, we apply data assimilation to an aerosol climate-model so as to accurately estimate global aerosol emissions, an important yet uncertain parameter for climatic change forecasting. More specifically, we develop a system with which we can apply data assimilation to an aerosol-climate model and, with it, estimate the intensity and distribution of various aerosols (soil dust, marine salt, organic carbon, black carbon, sulfates) for an approximately 10-year period. Our ultimate goal is to become able to estimate aerosol emissions within each square of a 1 degree latitude/longitude global mesh. Also, and after this application of data assimilation, we utilize this model to carry out highly reliable calculations/assessments of the climatic effects of aerosols.

Fields
Climate change
Grant year
FY2008 Research Grants
Grant term
2 years
April 2009 - March 2011
Grant amount
4,750,000 yen
Activity region
Global
SPRINTARS (Spectral Radiation-Transport Model for Aerosol Species), a numerical model developed to simulate global climatic effects of atmospheric aerosols (http://sprintars.net/)

Overview of the Organization

Associate Professor Toshihiko Takemura
Representative
Associate Professor Toshihiko Takemura
Profile
Specialist fields
Meteorology; atmospheric and environmental studies
Affiliated academic societies
Meteorological Society of Japan; American Geophysical Union; Japan Association of Aerosol Science and Technology; Japan Geoscience Union
Background
In September 2001 completed a Ph.D. (science) from the Department of Earth and Planetary Science at the Graduate School of Science, University of Tokyo. From October 2001 to January 2006 was a Research Associate, Research Institute for Applied Mechanics, Kyushu University. From October 2004 to October 2005 appointed visiting Scientist at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (concurrent assignment). From February 2006 to present has worked at the Research Institute for Applied Mechanics, Kyushu University.
WEB site
http://www.riam.kyushu-u.ac.jp
http://sprintars.net
Collaborating researcher
Keiya YUMIMOTO, Fellow, Division of Earth Environment Dynamics, Research Institute for Applied Mechanics, Kyushu University
Research record
Major accomplishments
Contributing author: The Physical Science Basis, the Forth Assessment Report (AR4) of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)
  • (1) Yamamoto-Syono Award for Outstanding Papers, Meteorological Society of Japan, 2002
  • (2) International Radiation Commission, Young Scientist Award, 2004
  • (3) The Young Scientists' Prize of the Commendation for Science and Technology by the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology of Japan, 2008
  • (4) Prize for Encouragement, Japan Association of Aerosol Science and Technology, 2009
Major papers
  • (1) Takemura et al., 2000: J. Geophys. Res., 105, 17853-17873.
  • (2) Takemura et al., 2002: J. Climate, 15, 333-352.
  • (3) Takemura et al., 2005: J. Geophys. Res., 110, doi:10.1029/2004JD005029.