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Rheem Lab
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A lab that measures the sea surface with radar and converts the power of waves and tidal currents into electricity.
AboutAbout the lab
Capturing the ever-changing sea surface.
The Rheem Lab studies sea-surface observation by remote sensing and the use of marine renewable energy.
The lab builds systems that use microwave pulse Doppler radar to observe waves, winds over the sea, tsunamis and tide levels, drift ice, and more.
It also studies systems that generate electricity from the power of waves and currents, and the effects that waves and currents have on floating offshore structures.
The lab conducts experiments in real sea conditions at Hiratsuka in Sagami Bay, Kuji in Iwate Prefecture, and Monbetsu in Hokkaido.
Key terms
- Remote sensing
- A technology that investigates an object from a distance by directing radio waves or light at it and analyzing the signal that returns
- Doppler
- When radio waves hit a moving object and return, their frequency shifts according to the object's speed. The speed is calculated from that shift.
- Marine renewable energy
- Energy extracted from the natural motion of the sea, such as waves and tidal currents, without emitting greenhouse gases
ResearchResearch themes
The sea surface is constantly changing under the influence of wind, atmospheric pressure, and topography, and everything in the ocean is affected by waves and currents. The lab works on sea-surface observation with microwave radar and on the research and development of power generation systems that use waves and tidal currents.
*Illustrative imageObserving the sea surface with microwave radar
By analyzing the strength of microwaves reflected from the sea surface and changes in Doppler velocity, the lab reads wave height, period, and direction, ocean currents, winds over the sea, tide levels, tsunamis, and sea ice conditions. The goal is a system that observes the sea surface from land, sea, air, and space.
*Illustrative imageObserving waves with fixed radar
The lab develops fixed-antenna pulse Doppler radar that is mounted on coasts or offshore structures to observe waves. By measuring in two or more directions simultaneously, it determines wave direction and height. Prototype units are tested at the Hiratsuka offshore integrated experimental tower.
*Illustrative imageMeasuring water level from radio signal strength
The strength of radio waves returning from the water surface varies with the antenna's orientation and the distance to the surface. Using this relationship, the lab observes changes in water level with radar and applies it to measuring tide levels, tsunamis, and river rises caused by torrential rain.
*Illustrative imageObserving drift ice with radar
Seawater moved by waves and sea ice moving as a mass differ in how the frequency of the reflected microwaves spreads. From this difference, the lab observes the distribution of sea ice and the speed at which it is approaching.
MembersFaculty
The members of the Rheem Lab are: faculty; research advisors, research fellows, collaborative researchers, senior collaborators, and joint researchers; project researchers; technical staff and project specialist staff; master's students; and research trainees.As of 2026
- ProfessorChang-Kyu RheemPublications ↗
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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.
- Top image: “Breaking waves, Sète cf03” Christian Ferrer / CC BY 4.0 (cropped)
- Observing the sea surface with microwave radar: “Exploring High-Resolution Sea Surface Height Data from NASA’s SWOT Satellite (SVS5538 - HD 05820)” NASA's Scientific Visualization Studio - USRA/Kel Elkins, NASA/JPL/Matt Archer, NASA/JPL/Jane Lee / Public domain (cropped)
- Observing waves with fixed radar: “Hiratsuka Offshore Research Tower 2025 April” Nesnad / CC BY 4.0 (cropped)
- Measuring water level from radio signal strength: “Storm tide monitoring equipment on the jetty at Palm Cove, 2018” Kerry Raymond / CC BY 4.0 (cropped)
- Observing drift ice with radar: “Sea at Shiretoko - panoramio” pakku / CC BY 3.0 (cropped)
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