From July 8th to 12th, 2024, the “9th GEWEX Open Science Conference” was held in Sapporo, Hokkaido.

GEWEX (Global Energy and Water Exchanges) is one of the core programs of the World Climate Research Programme (WCRP), aiming to enhance our understanding of water and energy cycles on the Earth’s surface, subsurface, and atmosphere. The conference served as a platform for sharing various research and observational projects that contribute to improving climate prediction accuracy.

This marked the first time the event was held in Japan. From our Hydraulics Laboratory, Pawat (D2), Kido and Matsuo (D1), and Kotani (M2) participated in this significant event.

At the conference venue, lively discussions took place, especially during the poster sessions, where many participants actively exchanged ideas.

On a separate day, we conducted field observations in Furano and Asahikawa. The survey sites included locations such as the Chubetsu River, Shirahige Falls, and Sandan Falls, where we observed natural environments relevant to our research.

We also visited Otaru during our free time, where we experienced the retro charm of the town and its unique local culture.

This GEWEX conference was the first to be held in Japan, providing a valuable opportunity for researchers from both Japan and abroad to come together. Moving forward, we aim to use the feedback received during the conference to enhance the quality of our research.