Syukuro Manabe, a 90-year-old senior meteorological researcher at Princeton University in the United States, has won a share of this year's Nobel Prize in physics. His research, which began out of curiosity, has opened the door to countermeasures against the global warming crisis that humankind faces.

       More than half a century ago, Manabe developed a method of using computers to predict the climate. Weather prediction is difficult, as many complex factors, such as the atmosphere, sea, and clouds, are involved. Manabe is a pioneer who made it possible to analyze events that will occur in the future, from global warming to heavy rains to droughts.

       Manabe was fascinated by the mysteriousness of day-to-day changes in the weather, and chose meteorology as the theme of his research, saying he wanted to unravel the mysteries of natural phenomena.

       Using a climate model he developed, he predicted that if the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere doubled, the temperature on Earth's surface would increase by about 2 degrees Celsius. He pointed out for the first time that human activities could have an impact on Earth's environment.

       Manabe's research results bore fruit in the form of a report by the Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). They also provided an opportunity for the world to work on global warming countermeasures through such initiatives as the Kyoto Protocol and Paris Agreement. The IPCC concluded there is no doubt that human activity is related to global warming. The average temperature on Earth continues to rise, and there is no time to spare.

       This year marks the first time that research in the field of climatology has been awarded the Nobel Prize in physics. It can be seen as a message to the world to speed up international negotiations on reducing greenhouse gases.

       Manabe, based in the United States, has been active on the front lines of such research since the 1950s. Now enjoying an environment with access to state-of-the-art computers, he reflects that he has been provided with complete freedom in his research.

       The research environment in Japan, on the other hand, remains harsh. Research funds tend to be diverted to fields that are immediately useful or that are in vogue, and it is difficult to continue research freely. Remuneration for young researchers is also unstable.

       It has been pointed out that Japan has seen a drop in its research capabilities, with a significant decline in its international position in the number of high quality, globally influential research papers.

       After the Nobel Prize announcement came, Manabe encouraged young researchers to engage in curiosity-driven research without chasing after trends. What Japan needs to do now is to foster a research environment that makes the most out of curiosity.

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