The Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST) and Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation (NTT) will launch a joint project in collaboration with Japan’s Meteorological Research Institute (JMRI). The initiative aims to enhance the scientific understanding of extreme weather phenomena and ultimately, to improve forecasting accuracy through advanced atmospheric and oceanic observations.
Despite progress in satellite-based meteorological technologies, current systems face limitations in capturing surface-level data, particularly over the ocean. Such gaps in observational data hinder the ability to fully understand the mechanisms that drive phenomena like typhoons and linear precipitation zones.
Since 2021, NTT and OIST have been jointly developing technologies to observe atmospheric and oceanic conditions, including areas directly beneath typhoons. Building on this collaboration, the inclusion of JMRI—an institution with extensive expertise in weather research—will facilitate further advancement in data acquisition and analysis.
The joint project will employ autonomous unmanned marine vehicles and specialized buoys to collect meteorological and oceanographic data during Japan’s flood season (June to September), when extreme weather events are most likely to occur. These observations will focus on the waters surrounding the Okinawa Islands.
The collected data will support both basic and applied research into the formation and evolution of phenomena such as typhoons and linear precipitation zones and are expected to contribute to a deeper understanding of ocean-atmosphere interactions that drive extreme weather events. Over time, the collaboration aims to refine forecasting models and develop case-specific prediction technologies, with potential applications in real-time disaster prevention and resilience planning.
The joint research will span four years, beginning in fiscal 2025, with a phased approach to expanding observation areas and target phenomena. Key initiatives include:
1. Marine and Atmospheric Observation in Typhoon Regions
- Direct collection of meteorological and ocean surface data during Japan’s rainy season.
- Deployment of autonomous marine vehicles and buoys in the sea areas around the Islands of Okinawa.
- Use of NTT’s communications and IoT sensing technologies for wide-area observation.
2. Analysis of Atmospheric-Oceanic Mechanisms
- Basic analysis of ocean surface data.
- Investigation of interactions between atmospheric and oceanic conditions.
- Integration of sea surface and atmospheric data to study mechanisms underlying extreme weather events.
Prof. Satoshi Mitarai from the Marine Biophysics Unit at OIST, who is participating in the project, commented: “With the addition of JMRI to the work we’ve already been doing with NTT, the scope of collaboration has expanded significantly, and the possibilities have grown even further. Research on extreme weather cannot be done by a single institution. It’s only through collaboration with various partners that we’re finally starting to make real progress. In particular, there is very limited data available on typhoons and other phenomena over the ocean. The first step is to accurately capture those conditions — increasing the number of observations is essential.”
Looking ahead, this project aims to promote research into a global-scale atmospheric and oceanic IoT sensing infrastructure utilizing satellite IoT and High Altitude Platform Stations (HAPS), with the goal of establishing an ocean observation platform essential for Japan as a maritime nation. In addition, by combining global-scale observational data with advanced simulations, the project will advance the development of technologies tailored to specific use cases for high-precision forecasting of extreme weather events.
