Maki Kikuchi

Biography

Maki Kikuchi is a Researcher in Earth Observation Research Center at Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA). After receiving her M.S. in Geophysics from Tohoku University (Japan) in 2011, she joined JAXA and since then her main role has been managing the development of JAXA geophysical algorithms for the joint European-Japanese Earth Clouds, Aerosols and Radiation Explorer (EarthCARE) mission. In recent years, she also engaged in managing JAXA products of the Japanese geostationary satellite, Himawari-8. Her recent research, including her Ph.D., has focused on developing algorithms to retrieve cloud/precipitation phase and ice crystal shapes from satellite-borne radar and lidar measurements, to understand their behaviors in cloud-precipitation processes. She received her Ph.D. in Atmospheric Science from the University of Tokyo in 2018. In 2019-2022, she joined the Center for Water, Climate and Land (CWCL) at the University of Newcastle in Australia as a Visiting Academic. While at the University of Newcastle, she studied the use of satellite observation data in the decision-makings of water resource management.

Education

2011   M. Sc., Graduate School of Science, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan 

2009   B.  Sc., Faculty of Science, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan 

Doctorate Dissertation

2018   Ph.D., Graduate School of Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan 

Title :   Observational study on spatiotemporal characteristics of hydrometeors and aerosols using multi-platform satellite measurements

Professional Experience

2020 - present  Researcher, Earth Observation Research Center, JAXA

2019 - 2022   Visiting Academic, Centre for Water, Climate and Land, The University of Newcastle

2019 - 2020   Researcher, Associate to Earth Observation Research Center, JAXA (Overseas Training Program)

2015 - 2019   Researcher, Earth Observation Research Center, JAXA

2012 - 2015   Engineer, Earth Observation Research Center, JAXA

2011 - 2012   Assistant Administrator, Earth Observation Research Center, JAXA

2011 - 2011   Assistant Administrator, Human Resources Department, JAXA 

Award

Awards for Science and Technology (Science and Technology Promotion Category), The Commendation for Science and Technology by the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology in 2021 to Maki Kikuchi, Hiroshi Murakami, Mayumi Yoshida, Takashi M. Nagao for "Promotion of Operational Monitoring Technology of Atmospheric Suspended Particulate Matter using Satellite Observations" [MEXT, JAXA](in Japanese)]

Research Interests

• Cloud and Precipitation Algorithm Development
  Algorithm development of hydrometeor type classification (cloud/precipitation phase and cloud particle shapes) using satellite radar and lidar

• Cloud and Precipitation  Global Analysis
  Global analysis of cloud and precipitation characteristics and processes using multiple satellite observations (cloud radar, lidar, imagers and microwave radiometers)

• Aerosol Algorithm Development
  Algorithm development of hourly aerosol properties using high temporal measurement of geostationary satellite

Experienced Management and Data Products

• • • Earth, Cloud, Aerosols and Radiation Explorer (EarthCARE) – a joint European-Japanese mission:
      Algorithm development management of JAXA geophysical products related to cloud, aerosol, precipitation and radiation
      http://www.eorc.jaxa.jp/EARTHCARE/index.html

• • • Himawari-8 – a Japanese geostationary satellite:
      Algorithm development management of JAXA Cloud and Aerosol Products
      http://www.eorc.jaxa.jp/ptree/index.html

• • • A-Train – an Earth observation satellite constellation lead by NASA and international organisations:
      Algorithm development management of JAXA A-Train Products
      http://www.eorc.jaxa.jp/EARTHCARE/research_product/ecare_monitor_e.html

Related Press Release

• • • 24 January 2020, Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA), Kyushu University (KU), Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), "Expanding Information on Yellow Dust"
      [in Japanese: JMA, KU, JAXA]

    • 31 October 2018, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), Kyushu University (KU),  "Improving Prediction Accuracy of Yellow Dust and PM2.5 Using Himawari-8 Data"
      [in Japanese: JAXA, KU]

Organisational Activities

• • EarthCARE European–Japanese Joint Mission Advisory Group (JMAG) 

  • JAXA EarthCARE Mission Advisory Committee

  • Japanese EarthCARE Science Team

  • Japanese EarthCARE Algorithm Working Group

  • EarthCARE Workshop Local Organizing Secretariat 

Professional Societies

• • American Geophysical Union

  • Japan Geophysical Union

  • Japan Meteorological Society

Journal Referees/Editor

• • Atmosphere (MDPI), Topic Editor (2020-present)

  • Atmospheric Environment (Elsevier)

  • Atmospheric Research (Elsevier)

  • Climate (MDPI)

  • IEEE Geoscience and Remote Sensing Letters (IEEE)

  • IEEE Transactions on Geoscience and Remote Sensing (IEEE)

  • Journal of Climate (AMS)

  • Journal of Geophysical Research (AGU)

  • Remote Sensing (MDPI)

  • Scientific Report (Springer Nature)

  • Journal of The Remote Sensing Society of Japan (The Remote Sensing Society of Japan)

Skills

• • Fortran90 - Satellite algorithm development, data analysis

  • GMT - Visualisation of satellite products and analysed data 

  • Igor Pro - Visualisation of analysed data

  • Linux - Script codes in bash/shell, makefiles, etc...

Selected Outreach Activities

• • • • EarthCARE Science Workshop, Bonn, Germany, 11-15 June 2018 

https://atpi.eventsair.com/QuickEventWebsitePortal/earthcare/home 

• • • • Joint PI Meeting of Global Environment Observation Mission FY2017, Tokyo, Japan, 22-26 January 2018 

http://suzaku.eorc.jaxa.jp/meeting/jointpi2017/index_en.html 

• • • • Tsukuba Space Center Open Day: Taking Photo with EarthCARE/CPR Grand Cloud Radar!, 15 October 2016 

      • EarthCARE Workshop 2014, Tokyo, Japan, 17-19 September, 2014 

http://www.eorc.jaxa.jp/EARTHCARE/workshop/2014/index.html 

• • • • The Meteorological Society of Japan Autumn Meeting: EarthCARE Special Session, Sendai, Japan, 21 November 2013 

      • CALIPSO, CloudSat, EarthCARE Joint Workshop, Paris, France, 18-22 June 2012 

Collaborations

• • • • European Space Agency (ESA)

• • • • Kyushu University

      • The University of Tokyo

      • Nagoya University

      • Tokai University

      • Tohoku University

      • National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT)

      • National Institute of Environmental Studies (NIES)

      • Meteorological Research Institute (MRI) 

      • Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA)

      • National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

• • • • Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) , Institute of Atmospheric Physics (IAP)