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Ionospheric and Magnetospheric Research Division Lab
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A research division that uses observations to explore the links between the solar wind and the magnetosphere and ionosphere.
AboutAbout the lab
Exploring the link between the solar wind and the Earth through observation
The division studies how the energy of the solar wind is transported to the Earth's magnetosphere and ionosphere, and how the magnetosphere, ionosphere, and thermosphere interact with one another.
It carries out observations of upper atmospheric winds, the Earth's magnetic field, and radio waves on a global scale, and analyzes data from ground-based and satellite observations.
Its research is carried out by three groups: the EISCAT Core Site Observations group, the Ground-Based Network Observations group, and the Space and Planetary Exploration group.
The division is one of the core research divisions of the Institute for Space-Earth Environmental Research, Nagoya University, and is introduced on the institute's website under the name "Division for Ionospheric and Magnetospheric Research."
Key terms
- magnetosphere
- The region dominated by the Earth's magnetic field, formed when the solar wind is blocked by that field.
- ionosphere
- A region in the Earth's upper atmosphere. The energy of plasma particles arriving from the magnetosphere is absorbed there as heat.
- lidar
- An observation method in which laser light is sent up into the sky and the reflected light is received and measured.
ResearchResearch themes
The division's main themes are to clarify how the energy of the solar wind is transported to the magnetosphere and ionosphere, and how the magnetosphere, ionosphere, and thermosphere influence one another. Its three groups carry out ground-based observations with radars, lidars, and optical instruments, develop particle analyzers to be carried on space probes and sounding rockets, and analyze observational data.
*Illustrative imageInternational core-site observations in northern Europe
In northern Europe, the division conducts large-scale core-site observations through international cooperation, using various radars including large radar systems, a sodium lidar, a Fabry-Perot interferometer, and auroral imagers.
*Illustrative imageGround-based network observations
Using visible-range spectroscopic instruments and radio instruments, the division operates an international observation network, unparalleled in the world, covering a wide area from the Arctic to Japan and the equatorial region.
*Illustrative imageDevelopment of particle analyzers for space probes
The division develops analyzers for plasma particles in space and in planetary atmospheres, to be carried on Earth and planetary probes and on sounding rockets, and advances exploration and observation plans through domestic and international cooperation.
MembersFaculty
The members of the Ionospheric and Magnetospheric Research Division consist of faculty and researchers.As of 2026
- ProfessorMasafumi Hirahara
- ProfessorYuichi Otsuka
- ProfessorKazuo Shiokawa
- Associate ProfessorSatonori Nozawa
- Associate ProfessorNozomu Nishitani
- Associate ProfessorMARTINEZ Claudia
- LecturerShinichiro Oyama
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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: “EISCAT Svalbard radar 01” Bernt Rostad from Oslo, Norway / CC BY 2.0 (cropped)
- International core-site observations in northern Europe: “Ramfjordmoen forskningsstasjon winter 1” Scanmap / CC0 (cropped)
- Ground-based network observations: “Astronomical Observatory of the Infante D. Luís Geophysical Institute” Lajmmoore / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Development of particle analyzers for space probes: “Australia Sounding Rocket Campaign Press Kit (SVS14164 - DEUCE Launch Photo 2)” NASA's Scientific Visualization Studio - NASA/WFF/Keith Koehler, KBR Wyle Services, LLC/Joy Ng, Telophase/Miles S. Hatfield, NASA/WFF/Jamie Adkins, Wyle Information Systems/Mara Johnson-Groh, KBR Wyle Services, LLC/Chris Perry, KBR Wyle Services, LLC/Brian Bonsteel, KBR Wyle Services, LLC/Allison Stancil, Berit Bland Company/Berit Bland / Public domain (cropped)
- Related lab (総合解析研究部
（草野 完也） ): “Strong Solar Flare Erupts from Sun, May 27, 2024 and Another May 29th (SVS14597)” NASA's Scientific Visualization Studio - KBR Wyle Services, LLC/Scott Wiessinger / Public domain (cropped) - Related lab (宇宙線研究部
（小林 雅俊） ): “Notre Dame QuarkNet Center classroom cosmic ray detector setup” CusterDome / CC0 (cropped) - Related lab (飛翔体観測推進センター
（石坂 丞二） ): “Phytoplankton bloom in the North Atlantic Ocean (MODIS )” Jeff Schmaltz, MODIS Land Rapid Response Team, NASA GSFC / Public domain (cropped) - Related lab (陸域海洋圏生態研究部
（福富 慶樹） ): “Earth Observation (iss069e054648)” NASA Johnson Space Center / Sultan Alneyadi / Public domain (cropped)
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