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Earth Environmental Systems Lab
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The lab explores a sustainable planet and sustainable communities through renewable energy, forest tree roots, and soil.
AboutAbout the lab
Studying the Earth as a single system
The Earth Environmental Systems Lab studies the global environment across disciplines, treating the Earth as a single system.
It aims to clarify how the global environment changes and to design a sustainable planet and society.
The lab works on community building in farming and mountain villages that makes use of renewable energy, and on research into the tree roots and soil that spread underground in forests.
By combining knowledge from multiple fields such as forestry and soil science, the lab seeks to create new research methods and new research areas.
Key terms
- pico-hydropower
- Hydropower generation using small flows of water, such as agricultural irrigation channels and mountain streams
- ground-penetrating radar
- A geophysical survey method for examining what lies underground without digging up the ground
- soil organic matter
- Organic matter in the soil formed when fallen leaves and dead roots are decomposed by soil animals and microorganisms. It also works to store carbon underground
NewsLab news
Professor Hirano and colleagues report a decline in the soil-reinforcement strength of the roots of old, resprouted konara oaks
Master's program students and others use an improved AI model to clarify root litter and root growth in Japanese cypress forests
In joint work with the Graduate School of Bioagricultural Sciences and others, the lab clarifies how fast the taproots of coastal Japanese black pine grow and what determines it
Discovery that, in extremely acidic soil, the fine roots of Japanese cypress support soil animals
Professor Hirano receives the Academic Distinguished Service Award of the Japanese Society for Root Research
ResearchResearch themes
The lab treats the Earth as a single system, working to elucidate the mechanisms of global environmental change and to design a sustainable planet and society. Through cross-disciplinary research that combines knowledge from multiple academic fields, it aims to develop new research methods and create new research areas.
*Illustrative imageRenewable energy and revitalizing farming and mountain villages
The lab studies the development and spread of renewable energy technologies such as pico-hydropower, woody biomass, and off-grid solar power. With farming and mountain villages in Toyota, Aichi Prefecture as its main field site, it works with residents and local government on regional revitalization centered on supporting young people who move in.
*Illustrative imageThick roots that support trees
The lab digs up the roots of large trees to confirm how thick roots support tall trees and prevent the collapse of surface soil and the runoff of sediment. It is also working to establish a method that uses ground-penetrating radar to estimate the spread of roots without digging up the soil.
*Illustrative imageFine roots that absorb nutrients and water
The lab studies fine roots, which absorb nutrients and water from the soil. It aims to clarify how Japanese cedar and Japanese cypress plantations growing in acidified soil adapt by changing the shape and physiology of their fine roots.
*Illustrative imageSoil organic matter and soil acidification
In Japanese cedar and Japanese cypress plantations, the lab compares how the degree of soil acidity affects the amount and properties of soil organic matter. It aims to clarify whether sustainable forestry is possible while maintaining soil functions even in strongly acidic soil.
MembersFaculty
The Earth Environmental Systems Lab consists of faculty members, secretaries, and doctoral, master's, and undergraduate students.As of 2026
- ProfessorMasao Takano
- ProfessorYasuhiro Hirano
- Assistant ProfessorRyota Hayashi
- Project LecturerAtsuo Suzuki
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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: “SEAS Radrick Forest soil sampling research ( )” University of Michigan School for Environment and Sustainability from Ann Arbor / CC BY 2.0 (cropped)
- Renewable energy and revitalizing farming and mountain villages: “Small hydroelectric generator, Colwith Force - geograph.org.uk - 1924334” Karl and Ali / CC BY-SA 2.0 (cropped)
- Thick roots that support trees: “Exposed tree roots along Clearwater River” PinchyCC / CC BY 4.0 (cropped)
- Fine roots that absorb nutrients and water: “Roots of tree at Brownsberg” Mark Ahsmann / CC BY-SA 3.0 (cropped)
- Soil organic matter and soil acidification: “Lem Creswell holds a piece of soil with good ground cover and organic matter, which is an important part of soil and rangeland health. ( )” USDA NRCS Texas / Public domain (cropped)
- Related lab (Earth Water Cycle Science Division, Cloud and Precipitation Science Lab): “Ishigakijima meteorological radar 02” 人事院 / CC BY 4.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Global Water Cycle Science Division, Oceanography Lab): “Infrared satellite image from the Pacífic Ocean” GOES Satellites / Public domain (cropped)
- Related lab (Material Cycle Science Lab (Urumu Tsunogai)): “EA-IRMS, isotope ratio mass spectrometer with elemental analyzer for the determination of isotope ratios of stable isotopes in wines, spirits, honey and natural sweeteners, in CAFIA laboratory” Sarka Na kopci / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Earth History (Nagoya University Museum) Lab): “Eurhinosaurus fossil located under the monumental staircase of the Gallery of Paleontology (French National Museum of Natural History, Paris)” Kintaro / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
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