*Research at Nadaoka Laboratory [#hb93f7d3]
CENTER:&ref(lab2016-5.jpg,nolink,30%);
&br;
**[[Coral reef environment]] [#hb93f7d3]
Coral reefs constitute the most diverse environments in the globe and are an important source of livelihood for many people. However, coral reefs world wide are under threat from increasing water temperatures leading to coral bleaching, ocean acidification, and other anthropogenically induced stresses such as nutrient loading, red-soil runoff, and enhanced sedimentation. Natural threats also abound, such as tropical cyclones and outbreaks of corallivores, most notably the crown-of-thorns sea star '''Acanthaster planci'''. The study of coral reef environments is multi-faceted and complex.
However, given the ecological and economic importance of coral reef ecosystems, efforts must be directed towards the proper understanding of related factors and processes in order to devise the most appropriate and effective management and conservation strategies. In Nadaoka Lab, our research themes have mostly revolved around this overall objective as we aim to contribute new and helpful scientific knowledge relating to the environment and important processes that are found in coral reef ecosystems.
Our research themes and activities include:
- Short and long term monitoring of the physical environment in coral reefs
- Numerical simulation of coral reef hydrodynamics
- Water sampling and assessment of nutrient and other water quality parameters in &br; reef environments
- Remote sensing techniques to derive bathymetric and habitat information
- Simulations of marine larval dispersal and connectivity studies
- Impacts of typhoons on coral reef environments
- Study of environments associated with coral reefs such as seagrass beds and mangroves
- Assessment of the impacts of aquaculture on nearby coral reefs
- Watershed modeling and terrestrial loading studies
&br;
&br;
LEFT:&ref(sensor_deploy1.jpg,nolink,86%); &ref(mangrove1.jpg,nolink,46%);&br;
&br;
LEFT:&ref(satellite_classification.jpg,nolink,39%);
&br;
&br;
LEFT:&ref(river_dam.jpg,nolink,55%); &ref(crab1.jpg,nolink,59%);&br;
**Research Studies in Previous Years [#l956cdef]
***Integrated coastal ecosystem environments [#e7aa3505]
-[[Environmental impact assessment]]
-Mangrove – tidal flat – seagrass – coral reef ecosystem interconnectivity
***Coastal environments in other countries [#c43c6882]
-[[The hydro environmental system of Manila Bay-Laguna Lake and its surrounding watershed in the Philippines:http://www.wv.mei.titech.ac.jp/IMSWES/index.html]]
-Physical process and ecosystem of atoll-type coral reef in Palau
***Monitoring and assessment for coastal ecosystems (mangrove, seagrass, coral reef) by remote sensing [#ke3b8d9a]
-[[Morphology-based reflectance optical modeling of corals]]
-[[Modeling of submerged aquatic vegetation (SAVs)]]
-[[Analysis of visible and infrared characteristics of mangrove forests]]
-[[Bio-optical modeling of shallow tropical lake waters]]
-[[Development of instruments and measurement techniques for shallow water environments]]
***Development of numerical simulation models [#nb306013]
-Macro and sub-depth scale turbulence model
-[[Sediment discharge assessment:http://www.wv.mei.titech.ac.jp/wiki-e/index.php?Environmental%20impact%20assessment]]
***Development of instrumentation [#jee33d05]
-buoy system with built-in GPS
**[[Undergraduate and master thesis, doctoral dissertations]] [#pdd022c5]
**[[Publications]] [#v0e3711d]