Pacific region, we are examining a program on "climate variability and prediction in Asia and Pacific". Through this study, we will understand the mechanisms and predictability of Asia-monsoon, El Nino, decadalscale variabilities and variabilities in land-ocean-atmosphere in the arctic area which will contribute to develop capability for accurate forecasting of the climate change in the Asia-Pacific region.
(2) To contribute to water resource management and desertification countermeasures, we are examining the program for predicting the global water circulation on the basis of a coupled atmosphere-ocean global circulation model.
(3) To contribute to climate change prediction by global warming, We are developing the program with the aim of evaluating and predicting more correctly the effect on the climate over 10 years by the greenhouse gas.
We also have in mind two programs, which are; the program with the aim of evaluating and predicting the effect to the ecosystem by the fluctuating of gases such as NOX, SOX in the atmosphere, and the program with the aim of understanding the earth dynamics and evaluating the effect by the earth inside fluctuation.
We hope, we may be able to present these programs to all countries as candidates for international cooperation programs in the near future, after our critical review.
At the same time, we established a new division named 'Ocean and Earth Division' in STA, which promotes earth science and technology, dealing with the earth as one total system, from the point of view of policy making. And we also established a new organization named ESTO (Earth Science and Technology Organization in the already existing Japan Resources Association) whose objective is to plan, draft, carry out, control and evaluate these programs. In addition to prompting those programs, those organization will provide a salon-like-atmosphere for researchers from the world to exchange views and ideas.
Finally, I would like to mention the role of JAMSTEC. One important area we need to deal with is the oceans, as one of major components in climate system. There can be no correct understanding of the global climate change without adequate understanding of the processes of the oceans which represents 70% of the earth;s surface. In this light, we consider the role of JAMSTEC, a general oceanographic institution committed to a broad range of marine science programs and technology developments, is really great. Together with NASDA which is charged with global observation through satellites, JAMSTEC is expected to play a central role in pushing forward future earth science and technology programs.
We need new ocean observation system like buoy network to address climate-change related events such as El Nino and Monsoons(mentioned in (1) above), which can take continuous parameter measurements with phenomena occurring in many places at the same time covering a wide area. And here we are
