Our research institute consists of four research divisions: “Environmental Dynamics” “Cascading and Linked Multi-Hazards” “Hazard Mitigation”, and “Societal Safety Systems”, to promote studies on mechanisms of the changing and intensifying natural hazards in order to establish disaster-resilient societies. With the background of need for joint usage/research centers in the Japan Sea coastal areas, the institute further pursues to construct research networks in the Japan Sea area where is especially prone to occur hazards in relation with snowy climate.
Research Division of Environmental Dynamics
This research division targets the mechanisms of extreme atmospheric phenomena that cause the disasters in the Japan Sea region from both the global and local perspectives. Studies are prompted on the following subjects:
1) Understanding of the occurrence mechanism of heavy rain/snowfall and gusts with severe storms or tornados.
2) Understanding the occurrence mechanism of floods, snow damage and sediment disasters from the perspective of water circulation.
3) Development of disaster monitoring and analysis system.
Research on Extreme Atmospheric Phenomena
This research area aims to understand disaster occurrence mechanism by real-time monitoring and analysis system of extreme atmospheric phenomena.Studies include:
1) Reinforcement of three-dimensional atmospheric condition monitoring system by surface, upper air and satellite observations.
2) Rapid detection of remarkable phenomena and understanding of the mechanism by advancement of real-time data acquisition and analysis system.
3) Understanding of disaster occurrence mechanism by reproduction and prediction experiments using high resolution atmospheric model.
Research on Global and Climate Variability
This research area aims to understand global atmosphere-ocean-snow-ice-land processes that cause extreme atmospheric phenomena.Studies include:
1) Understanding of global atmosphere-ocean-snow-ice-land processes using reanalysis data and long-term climate run based on numerical experiments.
2) Sensitivity experiment using atmospheric general circulation model to evaluate the influence of ice-ocean-land system variability.
3) Development of an atmospheric circulation monitoring system related to the prediction of the occurrence of extreme atmospheric phenomena.
Research Division of Cascading and Linked Multi-Hazards
This research division targets the disaster risk evaluation in snowy orogenic zones (tectonically active regions), such as areas along the Sea of Japan, and include studies in the following areas:
1) Understanding seismic/volcanic activities in the back-arc side linked to mega-earthquakes in the fore arc side.
2) Clarifying the mechanism of multi-hazards caused by the interaction of snow and ice with seismic/volcanic activities.
3) Evaluating the impact of global warming on snow and ice-related environments and disasters.
Research on Disasters Linked to Earthquakes
This research area aims to predict and mitigate disasters caused by earthquakes in the back-arc side linked to a mega-earthquake in the fore-arc side. Studies include:
1) Reconstructing tsunami history of the back-arc side by identification of “tsunami” deposits and development of an estimation technique for the tsunami source area.
2) Establishing a reconstruction technique of natural hazard history from geological records.
3) Advancing disaster research caused by earthquakes in the Circum-Pacific mobile belt.
Research on Volcanic Multi-hazards
This research area aims to understand volcanic hazards linked with earthquakes occurring in plate boundaries and their prediction and mitigation, especially in the following topics:
1) Lahars and perennial hydrological transportation of volcanic materials.
2) Prediction and assessment of transportation of volcanic materials induced by multiple factors.
3) Causes and factors of mid-term and long-term hazards in an eruption aftermath and prediction of widespread and cascading hazards.
Research on Snow and Ice-related Multi-hazards
This research area aims to promote studies on prediction and mitigation of multi-hazards caused by the interaction of snow and ice with seismic/volcanic activities in a warming climate. Studies include:
1) Elucidating the mechanisms and risk evaluation of snow and ice-related multi-hazards.
2) Developing prediction methods and countermeasure techniques.
3) Evaluating the impact of extreme weather and changes in precipitation regime on snow and ice-related hazards.
Research Division of Hazard Mitigation
This research division targets landslides and urban disasters such as floods, tsunamis, and other geo-disasters. These works are expected to promote disaster-resilient societies with research related to the following:
1) Understanding the mechanisms required to develop early sensing and hazard prediction.
2) Evaluating the limits of designed structured counter-measures.
3) Developing new numerical simulation and risk evaluation.
Research on Landslide Disasters
This research focuses on the on prediction and mitigation of landslide disasters induced by multiple factors in tectonically active zones. Studies include:
1) Developing mechanisms of rapid and long runout landslides from multiple causes.
2) Integrating risk evaluation technologies of landslides induced by earthquakes and extreme rainfalls.
3) Evaluating the disaster risks of landslides in the mountainous and urbanizing communities affected by societal and environmental changes.
Research on Water Disasters
This research aims to study the prediction and mitigation of water disasters caused by extreme weather and tsunamis running up in rivers around urban area in low-lying areas. Studies include:
1) Predicting and mitigating flood flows in channels and plains caused by extreme rainfalls.
2) Integrating risk evaluation of quake liquefaction damage on urbanized low-lying areas.
3) Developing a natural disaster mitigation technology for changing social structure and population decline.
Research on Societal Infrastructures
This research aims to promote studies on establishing safer lifeline and infrastructures, as well as enhancing the disaster risk reduction function of local industrial infrastructures. Studies include:
1) Evaluating the hazard mitigation capacity of the societal infrastructure for earthquakes, tsunamis, and floods.
2) International application of developed agricultural infrastructure recovery techniques in mountainous communities.
3) Developing integrated mitigation technology for constructing and managing safe infrastructures.
Research Division of Societal Safety Systems
This research division targets the development of emergency countermeasures and recovering strategies for disasters using information and communication technology. Studies are promoted on the following subjects:
1) Understanding the changing processes of social structures in areas stricken by natural disasters.
2) Estimating social impact associated with multi-hazards in the near future.
3) Studying resilient social structures in natural disasters areas in cooperation with academia, government agencies, and international organizations.
Research on Analysis of History Disasters
This research aims to promote studies on elucidating and understanding histories of disaster and changing processes of social structures and their relation to damaged areas. Studies include:
1) Analyzing historical materials and antique documents of disasters to understand the hysteresis of natural disasters, including earthquakes, floods, volcanic eruptions, and the changing processes of social structures.
2) Establishing archive technology for historical materials and antique documents relating to this subject.
Research on Strategies of Recovery from Natural Disasters
This research focuses on establishing strategies of recovery from natural disasters in relationship to the rearrangement of national land planning. Studies include:
1) Applying spatial information technology to develop rapid measures of disaster recovery.
2) Supporting installation of risk management headquarters for multiple disasters.
3) Implementing information and communication technology to estimate damages in areas stricken by natural disasters.
Research on ICT for Monitoring and Evaluating Damage due to Natural Disasters
This research aims to develop information and communication technology for monitoring and evaluating damage by natural disasters. Studies include:
1) Developing the application of cloud computing in the analysis and integrated management of natural disaster damages.
2) Establishing a method for the estimation of varying natural disaster damages in a wide geographical range based on satellite information.
3) Developing methods of visualizing damage from natural disasters in a broad geographical range and for assisting local administrators with measures for natural disaster recovery.
Research Division of Environmental Dynamics
This research division is presently vacant and in progress.