Professor / KUROSAKI Yasunori

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Field of specialization

Dust Climatology Subdivision: Spatiotemporal distribution of aeolian dust. Relation among wind, soil-land surface conditions, and dust generation (i.e., wind erosion)

Research Activities

1. Analysis of spatiotemporal aeolian dust by synoptic data and satellite image
2. Relation among aeolian erosivity, erodibility and dust emission (i.e., wind erosion)
3. Effects of climate change and human activities on wind erodibility
4. Effect of climate change on wind erosivity

Fig.1 A scene after a passage of dust storm accompanied with snow (approximately 100km south of Mandalgobi city, Mongolia on March 5, 2016).

Fig.2 A satellite image with weagher conditions from synoptic report, which shows occurrences of dust and snow stroms in Mongolia on March 4, 2016.

Associate Professor / TANIGUCHI Takeshi

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Field of specialization

Microbial　Ecology Subdivision: Ecology and use of plant symbiotic microorganisms in drylands

Research Activities

1. Search for effective platns symbiotic microorganisms(mycorrhizal fungi, endophytic fungi, and rhizosphere bacteria) to enhance plant drought salinity stress tolerances
2. Ecology and function of plant symbiotic microorganisms
3. Use of plant symbiotic microorganisms for ecosystem restoration and agricultural production in drylands

Fig 1. .Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in Tamarisk root

Fig.2 Pine seedlings without (left) and with (right) inoculation of ectomycorrhizal fungi (Kubuqi deresrt, Inner Mongolia, China)

Associate Professor / KIMURA Reiji

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Field of specialization

Meteorology Subdivision: Observation and physical understanding on the meteorological phenomena in the atmospheric boundary layer

Research Activities

1. Quantitative analysis of heat and water balances in arid land
2. Development of monitoring method to detect the land surface conditions by combining the meteorological and remote-sensing data
3. Observation and physical understanding on sand movement in arid region and Tottori sand dune

Fig.1 Global detection of aridification; (a):severe area for water availability, (b):transition area toward dryness. (Kimura, 2020)

Fig.2 Spatial destribution of CdSWC (cumulative decreased soil water content) and Pr(precipitation) in northeast Asia estimated by satellite data. 2017 and 2018 were years of drought and high rainfall. (Kimura and Moriyama, 2020)

Assistant Professor / TERAMOTO Munemasa

google scholar

Field of specialization

Terrestrial Carbon Cucle Subdivision: Study for biogeochemical cycles mainly focusing on soil carbon fluxes

Research Activities

1. Evaluation for the effect of land use on carbon budget in dry lands
2. Spaciotemporal analysis for soil respiration in the Tottori Sand Dunes
3. Analysis for the influence of global warming on soil organic carbon dynamics

Fig.1 Measurement of soil respiration in the Tottori Sand Dunes. CO2 efflux can be measured by covering sand surface with sealed container (chamber).

Fig.2 Change of CO2 concentration inside a chamber. The increase was due to CO2 efflux from sand surface during 3 minitues.

Specially Appointed Assistant Professor / ISHII Naohiro

google scholar

Field of specialization

Community ecology Subdivision: Plant diversity in drylands and its ecological consequences

Research Activities

1. Spatio-temporal distribution of biodiversity in drylands
2. Biodiversity-ecosystem functioning/stability relationships in drylands

Fig.1 Study site of desert steppe in Mongolia

Fig.2 Temporal monitoring of biomass production at individual level

Specially Appointed Assistant Professor / NAKAYAMA Masataka

google scholar

Field of specialization

Ecosystem ecology Subdivision: Material cycles in soil ecosystems and the dynamics of plants and microbes relating to the cycles

Research Activities

1. Revealing rates and mechanisms of material cycling in the soil ecosystems
2. Nitrogen acquisition strategies of plants in the surrounding soils of plant fine roots
3. Microbial dynamics and activities relating to the material cycles

Fig.1 Root window box for continuous observation of subsoils

Fig.2 Collection of root exudates in a field

Visiting Professor / ICHII Kazuhito (Chiba Univ.)

Field of specialization

Biogeosciences Subdivision:Terrestrial energy, water, material cycles based on integration of in-situ observation, remote sensing, and numerical modeling