(Development of WISE Program to foster AI Professionals
for Marine Industries)

At the 2025th International Symposium on the Okhotsk Sea & Polar Oceans, held in Monbetsu City from February 2th to 16th, 19, graduate student Satoshi Harada was awarded the Masaaki Aota Prize (Physics).

【Winner】
　Makoto Harada (1st year master's program, Graduate School of Marine Science and Technology, Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology)

[Title of award-winning research]
　A variation in the sea ice area in the East Siberian Sea in summer
(Summer sea ice extent in the East Siberian Sea)

[Details of award-winning research]
　The decrease in the Arctic sea ice extent in summer has stopped since 2007, and the area has transitioned to a new climate regime that shows a four-year cycle. In years of sea ice decrease (increase), early winter in Japan becomes colder (warmer), and the Arctic sea ice variation is attracting attention as a factor that affects climate change on a Northern Hemisphere scale. In this study, we focused on the area off the coast of East Siberia, where sea ice extent changes significantly, and investigated the four-year cycle in four stages. As a result, we confirmed that the spatial pattern of sea ice movement and the atmospheric circulation pattern have unique patterns in each stage, and that these patterns contribute to the sea ice extent change. Unraveling the feedback system between the atmosphere, sea ice, and ocean that brings about the characteristic four-year cycle pattern shown in this study will lead to elucidation of the mechanism of the four-year cycle of the Arctic sea ice extent.

<Related links>
The 39th International Symposium on the Okhotsk Sea & Polar Oceans
Monbetsu City Website