Saturday, October 30, 2021

Japan's First Typhoon Research Institute


Typhoons cause a lot of damage every year in Japan. Earlier this month a research institute dedicated to studying typhoons opened at Yokohama National University, which is the first of its kind in Japan. The Typhoon Science and Technology Research Center brings experts from private and government sectors, in addition to experts from academia together in order to predict damage caused by the storms and to develop countermeasures.  


Another goal of the research center is to promote research into making typhoons into a source of renewable energy. The head of the center, Hironori Fudeyasu said "As a researcher, I have felt a sense of defeat looking at the great damage brought about by typhoons." In addition to being the head of the new research institute, Mr. Fudeyasu is a professor of meteorology at the university. 


The center's members include researchers from the University of Tokyo, Keio University, Nagoya University, Kyoto University, the University of the Ryukyus, and the Meteorological Research Institute.  Also participating are Kawasaki Heavy Industries Ltd. and Deloitte Tohmatsu Consulting LLC from the private sector. 


This has not been a bad typhoon year where I live. I always check the typhoon situation on the JMA website, which is very helpful. 


In other areas of the world these storms are called hurricanes or cyclones. Have the storms been bad this year where you live?

10 comments:

diamondc said...

Pamela: This is very interesting, I hope your typhoons are small and no damage.
I have heard it is going to be a bad year for hurricanes, I hope not.

Catherine

Vireya said...

The Australian cyclone season officially starts on 1st November, so that's tomorrow. We can only hope that it won't be a bad season! But given everything else that's happened over the last couple of years, I won't be surprised if a major cyclone destroys some part of Australia this summer.

Vireya said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Julie Fukuda said...

Typhoons come along every year, moving up from the south. Depending on high or low pressure zones, they tend to move off to the west in the early season and move east in the later season. Tokyo area tends to get lots of rain, often causing damage, but not as bad winds as we used to get years ago. Areas near rivers running through the city, have gradually been adding overflow underground areas. I remember in the 70s and 80s, having electric power being shut off for days when trees fell taking out power lines, but the last tree I saw, fallen across the road, Was quickly being removed in the early morning.

kiwikid said...

We had a bad storm Thursday night into Friday, A couple of trees were damaged, the winds were super strong. It would be great if the typhoon energy could be used for alternate energy.

Anonymous said...

The power of the typhoon is definitely getting stronger. The word “Unexpected” is used many times. I just hope There is less damage.
Research on using typhoons for renewable energy is very interesting.

Queeniepatch said...

WE haven't had a disastrous one yet this year, but the season is not over yet!
Trying to harness the energy a typhoon creates is an interesting idea. I hope all those clever guys can get their heads together and find a way to save the planet.

roughterrain crane said...

Typhoons would not attack Japan any more this year.
Happy Halloween!

crazyQstitcher said...

I wish the Specialists of typhoons all the very best in their endeavors.

Leonore Winterer said...

I'm all for research, but I don't know how I feel about typhoons as a source of renewable energy. They seem way to unpredictable and irregular for that!