DATE2021.04.29 #Awards & Prizes

Professor Kaoru Sato received the Medal with Purple Ribbon in the spring of 2021.

Disclaimer: machine translated by DeepL which may contain errors.

Professor Kaoru Sato

Professor Kaoru Sato of the Graduate School's Department of Earth and Planetary Science was awarded the Medal with Purple Ribbon, a medal of honor issued on April 29, 2021, for outstanding achievement in the fields of academics, arts, and sports.

Professor Sato has long been actively engaged in research on atmospheric dynamics. His representative achievements include: the global imaging of gravity waves and their role in large-scale phenomena using high-resolution observations and numerical models; the elucidation of the generation and propagation mechanisms of gravity waves and Rossby waves from the troposphere to the mesosphere; and the promotion of observation projects in Antarctica.

Using high-resolution observation data from radars and radiosondes, we have elucidated the source and dynamical properties of gravity waves that are unique to each latitude zone, and have identified gravity waves as the primary driver of equatorial sub-biennial oscillations, which also affect the climate at mid- and high latitudes. He was also the first to introduce a high-resolution general circulation model into gravitational wave research, and pointed out the dominance of near-inertial gravity waves in the lower stratosphere at non-equatorial latitudes and the enhanced slowing down of polar night jets, which maintain the ozone hole, by horizontal propagation of gravity waves. Furthermore, he realized the construction of the world's first innovative large atmospheric radar, PANSY (Program of ANtarctic SYowa MST/IS Radar) at Showa Station, Antarctica, and achieved continuous mesospheric observations during the polar midnight period, which had been difficult in the past, thereby clarifying the momentum transport characteristics of mesospheric gravity waves, which are essential for improving the accuracy of climate prediction. These achievements include the construction of the Japan Meteorological Society (JMA), the Yamamoto Institute, and the Japan Meteorological Society. For these achievements, he received the Yamamoto and Masano Paper Award from the Meteorological Society of Japan, the Prize of the Meteorological Society of Japan, the Commendation for Science and Technology by the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (Development Category), the Prime Minister's Award for the Promotion of Maritime Nation, and the Fujiwara Award from the Japan Meteorological Society.

We would like to extend our sincere congratulations on receiving the award and wish him continued success in his future endeavors.

Cabinet Office website:
https://www8.cao.go.jp/shokun/hatsurei/r03haru.html#jokun

(Responsibility: Professor Noriyuki Hibiya, Department of Earth and Planetary Science)