Created by Risa Ishida (graduated student of Kusaka Lab.)
Carrer
Nov 2016 - Present Professor, Center for Computational Sciences, University of Tsukuba
Feb 2011 - Oct 2016 Associate Professor, Center for Computational Sciences, University of Tsukuba
May 2006 - Jan 2011 Assistant Professor, Center for Computational Sciences, University of Tsukuba
Aug 2001 - Apr 2006 Research Scientist, Central Research Institute of Electric Power Industry
Apr 1997 - Jul 2001 Research Associate, Central Research Institute of Electric Power Industry
Professor Hiroyuki KUSAKA is the pioneer of urban climatology in Japan. An expert of mountain meteorology such as local winds and radiation fog, his research is widely on local atmospheric phenomena which occur in earth planetary boundary layers.
He participated in developing the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model, which is the most popular and widely used weather model in the world, and managed to implement his Single-Layer Urban Canopy Model (SLUCM) to it. He is the only Japanese among the developers of the WRF model, and it was introduced earliest in Japan.
NCAR Foothills Laboratory
at Boulder, Colorado
Logo of the WRF model
Kusaka et al. (2001), represents an important milestone in the development of SLUCM. It was the first attempt of comparing several types of urban modelling system and it was selected as the “Top-Cited Boundary-Layer Meteorology Articles” of past 50 years. It was also evaluated for its historical contributions to research of urban climate.
Not only developing the urban canopy model, Prof. Kusaka presented many advanced results about the connection of urbanization and precipitation and the future prediction of urban climate. Evaluated these products, he was given The Helmut E. Landsberg Award from American Meteorological Society (AMS) in January 2021. This award is known as one of the most glorious awards in the fields of urban meteorology and climatology, as well as hydrology. There are only a few Japanese researchers who received the awards from AMS, especially active researchers.
A scene from the Helmut E. Landsberg Award presentation.
Often featured in the media like television and newspapers he introduces the research which is familiar with the public, such as thermal environment within the urban canopy and extreme high temperature caused with foehn winds. If you want to know more about Prof. Kusaka’s activities, please follow our twitter @lab_kusaka.
Prof. Kusaka is so friendly with students and staffs. In contrast, he is earnest about teaching to students. His approach to students as if he is one of the researcher on an equal stance with the student. Resulting such stern but kind guidance, many students produced excellent research results, which lead him to be selected as one the Best Faculty Members of the University of Tsukuba in 2021.
With Prof. Boku, the director of CCS
(following receipt of the medal and commendation)
Books of Prof. Kusaka
For learning the fundamentals of climatology
For studying about meteorology including experiments and observations
The encyclopedia of climates in Japan
(Written by: Yuma Imai; Edited by: Sharifah)
Room 301 in the Center for Computational Sciences, 1-1-1, Tennodai Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8577, Japan
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