Meteorological phenomena are highly complex, and are composed of a number of interrelated fundamental physical processes. Recently, these have attracted much attention in the field of forecasting for severe weather and climate change. In order to improve forecasting accuracy, research into them is essential. The Physical Meteorology Research Department engages in the study of clouds and precipitation, the atmospheric boundary layer, atmospheric constituents and atmospheric radiation.

　The study of clouds and precipitation focuses on understanding the microphysical structures of clouds and clarification of the mechanisms behind cloud formation and precipitation development.

　The study of the boundary layer concentrates on understanding turbulent transfer mechanisms between the earth's surface and the atmosphere, such as fluxes of momentum, heat and water vapor.

　The study of atmospheric radiation focuses on evaluation of the effects of atmospheric constituents, clouds and the earth's surface on radiative transfer.

• The 1st Research Laboratory (Cloud and Precipitation Physics)
  
  • Study of precipitaion initiation mechanism in mixed clouds
  
  
• The 2nd Research Laboratory (Atmospheric Boundary Layer)
  
  • Studies on the structure and turbulent transport process of atmospheric boundary layer
  • Observation on the comprehensive energy balance
  
  
• The 3rd Research Laboratory (Atmospheric Radiation and Cryosphere)
  
  • Radiative transfer modeling in the atmosphere-surface system
  • Experimental and theoretical studies on optical properties of atmospheric aerosols and snow/ice surface
  • Satellite remote sensing of snow physical parameters