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Planetary Atmospheric Physics Lab
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The lab explores how planetary atmospheres escape into space and how they evolve.
AboutAbout the lab
Systematically understanding the variability and evolution of planetary atmospheres
The lab studies the variability and evolution of atmospheres on planets, including Earth.
Planetary atmospheres are continuously escaping into space under the influence of solar ultraviolet radiation and the solar wind.
The lab investigates this escape by combining satellite observations, ground-based observations, and numerical simulations.
The lab participates in the science team of NASA's Mars orbiter MAVEN, in collaboration with the University of Tokyo and others.
Key terms
- Solar wind
- A supersonic flow of plasma (electrically charged particles) continuously blowing out from the Sun
- MAVEN
- NASA's Mars orbiter, intended to improve understanding of the escape of the Martian atmosphere into space
- Isotope ratio
- The proportion of atoms of different mass within the same element
- Regolith
- Sand-grain-like material covering the surface of Mars, containing many voids
NewsLab news
Assistant Professor Kuroda and colleagues, in an international collaboration, proposed a new hypothesis that the fine particles in Venus's lower atmosphere originate from meteors
A research group that includes Associate Professor Aoki reported an unseasonal loss of water on Mars
A master's student received a society award at the 158th SGEPSS meeting
A student received a Student Outstanding Presentation Award at JpGU 2025
A student received the Aoba Science Promotion Society Award for fiscal year 2024
ResearchResearch themes
The lab uses satellite observations, ground-based observations, and numerical simulations to study how the atmospheres of Earth and other planets escape into space, and the long-term changes this causes. On Mars in particular, atmospheric escape is attracting attention as a candidate cause of the transition from a warm, wet environment to a cold, dry one.
*Illustrative imageMartian Aurora
The lab studies the aurora that covers the entire nightside of Mars when solar energetic particles arrive.
*Illustrative imageFormation of Mesospheric Clouds on Mars
Clouds exist not only in the familiar troposphere but also in the mesosphere. The lab aims to clarify how clouds in the Martian mesosphere form.
*Illustrative imageObserving the Carbon Isotope Ratio in the Martian Atmosphere
Mars today has a thin atmosphere, but it is thought to have held a thick one 4 billion years ago. The lab observes the carbon isotope ratio in carbon monoxide in the middle atmosphere.
*Illustrative imageSubsurface–Atmosphere Interaction and the Martian Water Cycle
The surface of Mars is covered with sand grains called regolith, which contain many voids. The lab aims to clarify the processes of the Martian water cycle, including the interaction between the subsurface and the atmosphere.
MembersFaculty
The lab's members consist of faculty, visiting professors, research fellows, project researchers, visiting researchers, visiting scholars, doctoral, master's, and undergraduate students, and administrative assistants.As of 2026
- ProfessorNaoki Terada
- Associate ProfessorIsao Murata
- Associate ProfessorHiromu Nakagawa
- Associate ProfessorShohei Aoki
- Assistant ProfessorTakeshi Kuroda
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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: “Mars atmosphere” NASA / Public domain (cropped)
- Martian Aurora: “Aurora borealis over Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska” United States Air Force photo by Senior Airman Joshua Strang / Public domain (cropped)
- Formation of Mesospheric Clouds on Mars: “Mars - High Altitude Clouds over Terra Cimmeria - ESA Mars Express ( )” Andrea Luck / CC BY 4.0 (cropped)
- Observing the Carbon Isotope Ratio in the Martian Atmosphere: “Curiosity - Robot Geologist and Chemist in One!” NASA/JPL-Caltech / Public domain (cropped)
- Subsurface–Atmosphere Interaction and the Martian Water Cycle: “Sand dunes meet stacked ice at Mars’s north pole ESA25959853” European Space Agency / CC BY-SA 3.0 igo (cropped)
- Related lab (Space and Terrestrial Electromagnetism Lab): “Aurora Seen From Space by NASA” NASA -- US government agency / Public domain (cropped)
- Related lab (Tomida Lab): “HD 163296 protoplanetary disk by ALMA (16CB25B)” ALMA (ESO/NAOJ/NRAO); A. Isella; B. Saxton (NRAO/AUI/NSF) / CC BY 4.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Morishita Lab): “NASA-HS201427a-HubbleUltraDeepField” NASA, ESA, H. Teplitz and M. Rafelski (IPAC/Caltech), A. Koekemoer (STScI), R. Windhorst (Arizona State University), and Z. Levay (STScI) / Public domain (cropped)
- Related lab (Planetary Sphere Physics Lab): “Aurora and perseids” Stephan Sprinz / CC BY 4.0 (cropped)
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