Ocean Physical-process Analysis Lab (OPAL)
Our aim is to understand submesoscale, mesoscale and largescale physical processes in the ocean including internal waves, ocean mixing, eddies, fronts and currents. We mainly conduct field observations by shipboard surveys and instrument moorings.
Major research topics✒️
Internal gravity waves including internal tides, near-inertial oscillations, and non-linear internal waves, with emphasis on dynamics of their propagation and interaction with large- and meso-scale circulations.
Upper and deep ocean physical processes from meso- to large-scales and their coupled interaction in energetic front and eddy activity regions.
Analysis and understanding of non-linear physical oceanic processes using Artificial Intelligence (AI).
Environmental responses to the changing global climate in polar oceans, with emphasis on internal wave field and heat flux changes associated with the increasing expose of sea water to the atmospheric forces due to sea-ice melting.
Monitoring and prediction of 3-D coastal ocean environments using innovative observation systems.
Main observational instrument 👷
Current- and Pressure-recording Inverted Echo Sounder (CPIES)
Field programs using PIES/CPIES 🌐
South of Okinawa (2000-2001)
East Sea (1999-2001)
East China Sea II (2002-2004)
Kuroshio Extension System Study (KESS, 2004-2006)
South China Sea (2005, 2007, 2010, 2011)
Kerama Gap (2009-2011)
North Equatorial Current experiment (2012-2014)
Joint Kuroshio-RYukyu Current System Study (JKRYCSS, 2015-2017)
Flow Encountering Abrupt Topography (FLEAT, 2016-2017)
Mindanao Current (2017-2019)
Stratified Ocean Dynamics of the Arctic (SODA, 2017-2020)
Internal Tides in the East Philippine Sea (ITEPS, 2019-2021)
Southeast Indian Ridge (SEIR, 2021-2024)
