Kinouchi Laboratory - Tokyo Institute of Technology 
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Assessment and prediction of regional water resources through
the integration of advanced science and technology
Water is an irreplaceable entity that supports ecosystems and human activities on Earth, but it is ubiquitous in space and time, causing frequent droughts and floods. Climate change and increased human activity are expected to intensify this trend, with water pollution expected to become more pronounced. In our laboratory, we aim to understand the phenomena that cause such water problems and propose problem-solving methods for various regions in Japan and overseas, and conduct research based on a comprehensive and interdisciplinary approach that makes use of advanced technology. 
 

Recent research topics (domestic fields)



    Japan (nationwide)
      To understand hydorologic cycle and rainfall-runoff processes

       ・Identification of factors dominating rainfall-runoff processes in headwater forested catchments
       ・Projecting the influece of climate change on extreme rainfall over Japan

    Kasumigaura-Lake Watershed (Ibaraki Prefecture)
      To predict and mitigate eutrophication in the lake

       ・Projecting the influece of climate change on lake water quality and ecosystem
       ・Forecasting algal bloom using machine learning models
       ・Distrubited hydrological modeling of nutrient transport in major tributary watersheds
       ・Application of UV-VIS spectroscopy for monitoring organics, nutrients, and suspended sediments

    Abukuma River Watershed (Fukushima and Miyagi Prefectures)
      To predict short- and long-term fate of radioactive cesium deposited over the watershed

      ・Modeling transport of eroded sediments with radioactive cesium
      ・Understanding the mechanism of multi-class sediment erosion using a rainfall simulator
      ・Source identification of suspended sediment in streams based on the elemental composition

    Tama River Watershed (Tokyo Metropolitan Area)
      To understand the hydrological and thermal impacts of human activities on aquatic environment

       ・Modeling stream temperatures considering anthropogenic impacts and hydrological processes
       ・Simulation of groundwater and surface water interaction and its effect on stream temperature


 

Recent research topics (fields in abroad)



    Mekong River Basin (MRB) and Tonle Sap Lake (TSL) Basin (Cambodia, Laos, China)
      To assess the hydrological impacts of basin development and climate change

      ・Impacts of land use change and dam developments in the Lower MRB
      ・Runoff and sediment transport modeling using satellite datasets for poorly gauged basins
      ・Real time forecasting of flood inundation in the TSL Basin using satellite-based precipitation data
      ・Prediction of climate change impacts on water resources in the MRB

    Cities and regions in Southeast Asia (Cambodia, Vietnam)
      To assess flood vulnerability due toclimate change and urbanization

      ・Impacts of climate change on extreme rainfalls and flood risks
      ・Simulation of urban floods and inundation
      ・Assessment of health impacts caused by urban inundation
      ・Assessment of drainage capacity of Phnom Penh City against land-use change and climate change

    Chao Phraya River Basin (Thailand)
      For improving flood and drought forecasting accuracy and predicting impacts of climate change

      ・Analysis of massive inundation ocurred in 2011
      ・Distributed rainfall-runoff and inundation modeling for flood forecasts
      ・Forecasting rainfall based on climate indices and its application for water reousrces management

    South Asia (India, Pakistan)
      Quantification of terrestrial water and groundwater dynamics and impacts of climate change

      ・Quantification of terrestrial water dynamics using satellite data and land surface models
      ・Assessment of agricultural drought impacts
      ・Quantification and projection of water resources for the Indus River Basin

    High-altitude Mountainous catchments in Tropical Andes (Bolivia)
      For water resources management in La Paz and El Alto under changing climate and retreating glacier

      ・Detection of glaciers and wetlands using sattelite imagery
      ・Glacier-melt and runoff monitoring and modeling for runoff projection under changing climate
      ・Predict water demand and supply for La Paz & El Alto and propose measures to secure water