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Global Water Cycle Science Division, Hydroclimatology Lab
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A lab that follows changes in water around the globe, from the Arctic and Antarctica to Asia.
AboutAbout the lab
Exploring where the world's water goes
The Hydroclimatology Lab studies the role that the global water cycle plays in the climate system.
It aims to answer questions such as where the water vapor that brings rain comes from, and how the water cycle changes with global warming.
The lab covers the water cycle from regional to global scales, not only in Japan but also in the Arctic, Antarctica, and Asian monsoon regions.
Combining field observations, laboratory experiments, data analysis, and numerical modeling, the lab lets students choose their study region and methods to suit their own aptitudes.
Key terms
- Permafrost
- Ground that stays at or below 0°C for two or more consecutive years. It is widespread in cold regions such as Siberia and Mongolia.
- Evapotranspiration
- The combination of evaporation from the ground and water surfaces and transpiration, in which plants release water from their leaves.
- Monsoon
- Winds that change direction greatly with the season, and the rainy and dry seasons that come with them.
NewsLab news
View More ↗ResearchResearch themes
Combining data analysis, field observation, laboratory experiments, and numerical simulation, the lab studies the state of Arctic warming, the water cycle between the atmosphere and land, variability of clouds and precipitation in Asia, and the effects of warming on the Antarctic continent. At observation sites from the tropics to the polar regions, it measures precipitation, water vapor, evapotranspiration, and greenhouse gases, and investigates how human activities and warming affect the water cycle and material cycles.
*Illustrative imageWater Cycle and Permafrost in Siberia and Mongolia
The lab studies the atmospheric and terrestrial water cycle in Siberia and Mongolia, which is changing greatly as Arctic sea ice declines. Because warming and changes in the water cycle are speeding up the thawing of the upper layer of frozen ground, the lab also investigates the behavior of greenhouse gases such as methane and carbon dioxide.
*Illustrative imageChanges in the Water Cycle Seen from Antarctica
The lab investigates how the water cycle changes with climate change, using methods from meteorology, climatology, and geochemistry. Through participation in the Japanese Antarctic Research Expedition, it also works to clarify the effects of global warming on the Antarctic water cycle.
*Illustrative imageVariability of Clouds and Precipitation in Asia
The lab studies variability of clouds and precipitation in Asian monsoon regions such as the Tibetan Plateau and Bangladesh. Using satellite data, reanalysis data, and field observation data, it examines how not only atmospheric circulation but also land-surface conditions such as topography and soil moisture affect clouds and rain.
MembersFaculty
The Hydroclimatology Lab consists of faculty members, visiting international collaborative researchers, master's students, and administrative assistants.As of 2026
- ProfessorTetsuya Hiyama
- Associate ProfessorNaoyuki Kurita
- LecturerHatsuki Hatsuki
- Project Associate ProfessorYoshiki Fukutomi
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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: “Permafrost Polygons ( )” Western Arctic National Parklands / CC BY 2.0 (cropped)
- Water Cycle and Permafrost in Siberia and Mongolia: “Ice wedges form underground over time and produce polygons on the tundra. The complex patterns are best seen from the air. (c5336f1c-1dd8-b71c-072d-34f5852f454e)” NPS Photo / Public domain (cropped)
- Changes in the Water Cycle Seen from Antarctica: “The Antarctic Ice Sheet's Changing Height” NASA/JPL-Caltech / Public domain (cropped)
- Variability of Clouds and Precipitation in Asia: “Himawari-8 Sees Rain Clouds Over Indonesia as Monsoon Season Comes to a Close (NESDIS )” NOAA / Public domain (cropped)
- Related lab (Geochronology Lab): “EPMA GTK Espoo” Kallerna / CC BY-SA 4.0 (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 Environmental Change Lab): “GRINNELL GLACIER LANDSCAPE B FOOTAGE ( )” GlacierNPS / Public domain (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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