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Komatsu Lab
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The lab studies climate and marine ecosystems through phenomena at the sea surface, the boundary between the atmosphere and the ocean.
AboutAbout the lab
Pioneering the frontier of sea surface environment research
The Komatsu Lab studies phenomena at the sea surface, where the atmosphere and the ocean meet, and their effects on climate and marine ecosystems.
It has become clear that small changes at the sea surface affect daily weather, global climate, and even marine ecosystems.
The lab investigates the actual state and mechanisms of these phenomena by combining numerical simulations with observations from research vessels, work boats, and drones.
It also studies how variations in ocean currents, waves, and water structure affect plankton and fish.
Key terms
- Nutrients
- Components dissolved in seawater, such as nitrogen and phosphorus, that phytoplankton need in order to grow
- Swell
- Long-period waves that remain after the wind weakens or changes direction. They propagate from distant parts of the ocean
- Sea surface slick
- A film-like patch on the sea surface that looks smoother than the surrounding water
NewsLab news
Held "Frontiers of Sea Surface Environment Research" at the Spring Internship
A doctoral student received the Department Chair's Award from the Department of Natural Environmental Studies
A master's student received the Dean's Award from the Graduate School of Frontier Sciences
A master's student received the Outstanding Young Researcher Presentation Award from the Oceanographic Society of Japan
Held an online information session for prospective students
ResearchResearch themes
The lab investigates how variations in ocean currents, waves, and water structure affect nutrients, phytoplankton, zooplankton, and fish, aiming to clarify the mechanisms by which marine ecosystems fluctuate. Its research combines numerical simulations with in situ observations using ships and moored buoys.
*Illustrative imageEffects of the Kuroshio on Marine Ecosystems
The surface waters of the Kuroshio are low in nutrients, yet it is not known why so many fish use them as spawning grounds. The lab studies the Kuroshio's effects on ecosystems, including its role in transporting nutrients to the surrounding ocean.
*Illustrative imageEffects of Waves on Coastal Ecosystems
Buoy observations in Otsuchi Bay in Sanriku showed that waves inside the bay depend on swell propagating from offshore. Using observations and numerical models, the lab examines how waves affect biological production in coastal waters.
*Illustrative imageUnderstanding Phenomena at the Sea Surface
The lab studies phenomena at the sea surface, the boundary between the atmosphere and the ocean, and their effects on climate and marine biological resources. Using research vessels and drones, it observes sea surface slicks and the transfer of water vapor from the ocean to the atmosphere.
MembersFaculty
The members of the Komatsu Lab are faculty, technical assistants, and doctoral students.As of 2026
- Associate ProfessorKosei KomatsuPublications ↗
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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: “Pacific swells ( )” Russ / CC BY 2.0 (cropped)
- Effects of the Kuroshio on Marine Ecosystems: “Spring Bloom Colors the Pacific Near Hokkaido” Norman Kuring / Public domain (cropped)
- Effects of Waves on Coastal Ecosystems: “Heavy Swell ( )” Erland De Vienne / CC BY-SA 3.0 (cropped)
- Understanding Phenomena at the Sea Surface: “Slick on the Surface - geograph.org.uk - 1953223” Anne Burgess / CC BY-SA 2.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Saito Lab): “Calanus finmarchicus” Leïla Brunner / CC BY 4.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Marine Ecosystem Variability Lab): “SHINSEI-MARU” Pointerseven / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Obata Lab): “Hakuho Maru, Fremantle, 2019 (03)” Bahnfrend / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Microbiology Lab): “Hakuho Maru, Fremantle, 2019 (03)” Bahnfrend / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
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