Maki Kikuchi
Researcher
Earth Observation Research Center, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA)
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 lidarCloud 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 satelliteDecision-making in Water Research Management
Fundamental study on satellite application process in decision-making for water resource management
Keywords
Cloud
Precipitation
Aerosol
Cloud/Precipitation Phase
Cloud Particle Shape
Cloud - Precipitation Process
Hydrology
Climate
Climate Variability
Water Resource Management Decision-making
Algorithm Development
Satellite Remote Sensing
Algorithm Management
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)