Dr. Masami Nonaka stands as a distinguished researcher in oceanography and climate science with over two decades of significant contributions to understanding Pacific climate variations. He has held the position of Group Leader at the Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC), including as Group Leader of the Climate Variability Prediction and Application Research Group since at least April 2017, and Group Leader and Senior Researcher in the Climate Variability Prediction and Application Research Group, Application Laboratory, Research Institute for Value-Added-Information Generation, Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology from October 2024, where he leads critical research initiatives in ocean-atmosphere interactions. After earning his PhD in Environmental Earth Science from Hokkaido University in December 1998, he joined the International Pacific Research Center (IPRC), University of Hawaii, as a Frontier Research Scientist in April 1999, establishing his research career focused on ocean dynamics. Dr. Nonaka has held academic positions at several prestigious Japanese institutions, demonstrating his interdisciplinary expertise across marine science and environmental disciplines.
Dr. Nonaka's seminal research has profoundly advanced understanding of ocean circulation connections between subtropical and tropical regions, particularly examining the ocean's role in Pacific decadal climate variation. His pioneering work on the causes of decadal and interdecadal variations in sea surface temperature and subsurface temperature fields across the North Pacific and tropical Pacific has provided critical insights into long-term climate patterns that impact global weather systems. Through meticulous analysis of oceanographic data and climate models, his research has helped elucidate the mechanisms driving climate variability on multi-year to multi-decadal timescales, significantly improving the scientific community's ability to interpret and predict climate change patterns. These contributions have established foundational knowledge for climate modeling efforts worldwide, influencing both academic research and practical applications in climate forecasting and adaptation strategies.
As Group Leader at JAMSTEC since October 2024, Dr. Nonaka continues to shape the trajectory of oceanographic research through strategic leadership and collaborative initiatives across multiple disciplines. His work has catalyzed new directions in understanding how oceanic processes influence broader climate systems, fostering interdisciplinary connections between physical oceanography, atmospheric science, and climate modeling communities. Dr. Nonaka's research group serves as a training ground for emerging scientists specializing in climate dynamics, with his mentorship cultivating the next generation of oceanographers and climate scientists in Japan and internationally. Looking forward, his ongoing research focuses on enhancing predictive capabilities for decadal climate variations through advanced observational techniques and sophisticated modeling approaches, positioning him at the forefront of efforts to address one of climate science's most challenging questions: understanding and predicting long-term climate variability in a changing world.
