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Geosphere Environmental Systems Lab
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The lab explores how people interact with the subsurface, including groundwater and resource development.
AboutAbout the lab
Toward geosphere use in harmony with the environment
The Geosphere Environmental Systems Lab studies the environment of the geosphere beneath our feet.
The geosphere is used for extracting energy resources, drawing groundwater, disposing of waste, and developing tunnels and underground shopping areas, and these uses also give rise to environmental challenges.
The lab seeks to understand and predict how the interaction between humans and nature changes the geosphere environment, and develops the technologies needed to use the geosphere in harmony with the environment.
Key terms
- Geosphere
- The region from the ground surface down into the subsurface, made up of rock, soil, groundwater, and other materials
- Land subsidence
- A phenomenon in which the ground gradually sinks, for example due to the pumping of groundwater or natural gas
- Consensus building
- The process in which the people concerned discuss an issue and work toward a conclusion they can all accept
ResearchResearch themes
The lab aims to understand and predict changes in the geosphere environment caused by the interaction between humans and nature, and to develop the technologies needed to use the geosphere in harmony with the environment. Its work covers the environmental impacts of resource development, challenges in groundwater use, and the understanding of various subsurface phenomena.
*Illustrative imageManaging resource development and land subsidence
The lab studies how to manage land subsidence caused by the production of energy resources such as natural gas, in places such as Kujukuri and Niigata. By combining observation and modeling, it provides information that supports consensus building with local communities.
*Illustrative imageSolving challenges in groundwater use
The lab studies the relationship between groundwater and urban development or the use of underground space, as well as urban growth and the water environment, water resources in regional development, and groundwater contamination. Its study sites include Tokyo, Oki, Niijima, India, and Cambodia.
*Illustrative imageUnderstanding subsurface phenomena
Using field surveys, laboratory experiments, and numerical analysis, the lab investigates the presence and origin of ancient groundwater and whether the subsurface environment remains stable over long periods. Approaches to radioactive waste disposal are also a subject of study.
MembersFaculty
The lab's members consist of faculty, project researchers, technical specialists and equipment management staff, secretaries, visiting collaborative researchers and visiting joint researchers, and students in the doctoral, master's, and undergraduate programs.As of 2026
- ProfessorTomochika TokunagaPublications ↗
- Assistant ProfessorJiaqi Liu
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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: “Layers of sedimentary rock formed on the earth's surface. 5310” AlixSaz / CC BY 4.0 (cropped)
- Managing resource development and land subsidence: “US-Indian Spacecraft Captures Mexico City Subsidence (PIA26709 figA)” NASA/JPL-Caltech/David Bekaert / Public domain (cropped)
- Solving challenges in groundwater use: “Hand pump India” Nikhilb239 / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Understanding subsurface phenomena: “Gobustan mud volcanoes 04” Bernard Gagnon / CC BY 4.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Saito Lab): “Onkalo driving tunnel” kallerna / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Murakami Lab): “Bingham Canyon Mine (2) - Salt Lake County, Utah - May 11, 2012” David Ratledge / CC BY 4.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Dodbiba Lab): “Prominenthill-flotation” Geomartin / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Tokoro-Takaya Lab): “Froth flotation” Andreslan / Public domain (cropped)
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