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Earth Water Cycle Science Division, Cloud and Precipitation Science Lab
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The lab observes clouds and rain with satellites and state-of-the-art radar to explore their relationship with climate.
AboutAbout the lab
Viewing clouds and rain from space and from the ground.
The Cloud and Precipitation Science Lab studies how to observe and analyze clouds and rain using satellites and ground-based radar.
The lab consists of two groups: the Cloud and Precipitation Sensing Lab, which does research related to radar and meteorology, and the Cloud and Precipitation Climatology Lab, which explores how clouds and rain relate to climate.
The two groups hold a joint lab seminar every week and share student rooms.
The lab belongs to the Institute for Space-Earth Environmental Research, and accepts graduate students as a cooperating division of the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Graduate School of Environmental Studies.
Key terms
- Radar
- A device that emits radio waves and measures the distribution of rain and clouds from the waves reflected back by raindrops and cloud droplets.
- MP-PAWR
- Short for Multi-Parameter Phased Array Weather Radar. A state-of-the-art radar that observes precipitation from the ground.
- Latent heat
- The heat released to the surroundings when water vapor turns into cloud droplets (condenses).
ResearchResearch themes
Using cloud and precipitation radars aboard satellites and state-of-the-art ground-based radars, the lab works on extracting physical quantities of clouds, developing radars, and observing and analyzing precipitation. It treats clouds and rain as part of the large-scale atmospheric circulation, and aims to understand the physical mechanisms linked to climate.
*Illustrative imageCloud and precipitation radars aboard satellites
The lab studies how to extract physical quantities of clouds from data of cloud and precipitation radars aboard satellites, such as the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM), the Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) mission, CloudSat, and EarthCARE. It also does research related to the development of spaceborne radars.
*Illustrative imageObserving precipitation with state-of-the-art ground-based radar
The lab observes precipitation with a state-of-the-art ground-based radar (MP-PAWR) and analyzes the data. Analysis of precipitation systems associated with typhoons and of downbursts are among the research topics of students.
*Illustrative imageTropical precipitating clouds and atmospheric circulation
In the tropics, the latent heat released when water vapor turns into cloud droplets is the main fuel that drives atmospheric circulation. Focusing on the role of precipitating cloud systems, the lab aims to understand the dynamics of the tropical climate.
MembersFaculty
The members of the Cloud and Precipitation Science Lab are faculty, postdoctoral researchers, and doctoral, master's, and undergraduate students.As of 2026
- ProfessorNobuhiro Takahashi
- Associate ProfessorHirohiko Masunaga
VoicesStudent voices
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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: “Ishigakijima meteorological radar 02” 人事院 / CC BY 4.0 (cropped)
- Cloud and precipitation radars aboard satellites: “Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) Constellation ( )” NASA Goddard Space Flight Center from Greenbelt, MD, USA / Public domain (cropped)
- Observing precipitation with state-of-the-art ground-based radar: “Advanced Technology Demonstrator radar antenna array 02” NOAA / Public domain (cropped)
- Tropical precipitating clouds and atmospheric circulation: “Cumulonimbus cloud over Africa” NASA / Public domain (cropped)
- Related lab (Earth Water Cycle Science Division, Meteorology Lab): “Weather radar dome on Holehead - geograph.org.uk - 5668882” Alan O'Dowd / CC BY-SA 2.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Earth Environmental Systems Lab): “SEAS Radrick Forest soil sampling research ( )” University of Michigan School for Environment and Sustainability from Ann Arbor / CC BY 2.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Global Water Cycle Science Division, Hydroclimatology Lab): “Permafrost Polygons ( )” Western Arctic National Parklands / CC BY 2.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Global Water Cycle Science Division, Oceanography Lab): “Infrared satellite image from the Pacífic Ocean” GOES Satellites / Public domain (cropped)
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