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Ocean Modeling Lab
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The lab uses numerical models and observational data to understand and predict ocean currents.
AboutAbout the lab
Unraveling the mysteries of ocean circulation and predicting its future.
The Ocean Modeling Lab conducts research and education aimed at unraveling the mysteries of ocean circulation and predicting its future.
Its main tool is numerical modeling, and it also actively uses ocean observations from satellites and ships.
The lab's website shows ocean conditions in the waters around Kyushu in real time.
Research themes are diverse, ranging from the fundamental theory of physical oceanography to applications and real-world problems.
Key terms
- Data assimilation
- A method that combines the strengths of numerical models and observational data, used for ocean state forecasting, reanalysis, and similar purposes
- Ocean state forecasting
- Predicting in advance the state of the ocean, such as water temperature and currents
- Ocean circulation model
- A numerical model that computes and predicts changes in ocean water temperature and flow velocity
NewsLab news
A student received the Kyushu University Interdisciplinary Graduate School of Engineering Sciences Award
A paper by Prof. Hirose et al. was published in the Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom
A paper by Prof. Hirose was published in Frontiers in Marine Science
Assistant Professor Onuki received the Okada Prize (FY2024) from the Oceanographic Society of Japan
ResearchResearch themes
The lab aims to unravel the mysteries of ocean circulation and predict its future. Its main tool is numerical modeling, supplemented by observations from satellites and ships.
*Illustrative imageOcean State Forecasting with Data Assimilation
The lab combines the strengths of the deductive approach of numerical modeling and the inductive approach of observational data analysis to study ocean state forecasting, reanalysis, and optimization. It has built an actual ocean state forecasting system, which it publishes and demonstrates on its website.
*Illustrative imageDevelopment of an Original Ocean Circulation Model
The lab develops and improves the institute's own three-dimensional ocean circulation model, the RIAM Ocean Model. The model can simulate a wide range of ocean variability, from the open ocean to coastal scales, and DREAMS, the ocean state forecast for the seas around Japan, is also based on it.
*Illustrative imageDevelopment of Marine Ecosystem Models
The lab develops and improves ecosystem models that predict increases and decreases in plankton, the base of marine ecosystems. By coupling them with ocean circulation models, it examines how plankton respond to projected climate change.
*Illustrative imageSurveying the Potential of Ocean Energy
The lab builds high-resolution, high-accuracy local ocean models to estimate the amount of energy available from ocean currents and from ocean thermal energy conversion. It links the results to field demonstration experiments.
MembersFaculty
The lab's members consist of faculty, JSPS Research Fellows, external staff, technical staff, and doctoral and master's students.As of 2026
- ProfessorNaoki Hirose
- Assistant ProfessorYohei Onuki
- Assistant Professor (Specific Project)Liu Tianran
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Report an errorAbout the images
The top and research theme images are illustrative and were not taken at the lab. They are cropped from Wikimedia Commons images. Cropped CC BY-SA images are provided under the same CC BY-SA license as the original (version shown on each line).
- Top image: “Ocean circulation conveyor belt” Thomas Splettstoesser / Public domain (cropped)
- Ocean State Forecasting with Data Assimilation: “Qualitative map of the Labrador sea currents. With the area of maximum EKE marked. With Depth contours” JimRegtien / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Development of an Original Ocean Circulation Model: “Map of ocean currents (1898)” Картографическое заведение А. Ильина / Public domain (cropped)
- Development of Marine Ecosystem Models: “A Swirl of a Day for Phytoplankton (154086)” NASA Earth Observatory images by Wanmei Liang, using Landsat data from the U.S. Geological Survey. Story by Adam Voiland. / Public domain (cropped)
- Surveying the Potential of Ocean Energy: “Model of HydroQuest tidal turbine” Drnoble / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Ocean Dynamics Lab): “Scooping up marine debris ( )” NOAA Marine Debris Program / Public domain (cropped)
- Related lab (Climate Modeling Lab): “GEOS-FP Precipitation and Clouds (SVS5149)” NASA's Scientific Visualization Studio - NASA/GSFC/Joseph V. Ardizzone / Public domain (cropped)
- Related lab (Ocean Variability Dynamics Lab): “Argo float deployed from research vessel” NOAA GOMO (Global Ocean Monitoring and Observing Program) / Public domain (cropped)
- Related lab (Atmospheric Environment Science Lab): “Upperatmosphereresearchsatellite” NASA/MSFC / Public domain (cropped)
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