Introduction 

In collaboration with all core projects (Sawada Project, Fudeyasu Project, Yamaguchi Project, and Kotsuki Project) of Moonshot Goal8（MS8）’Realization of a society safe from the threat of extreme winds and rains by controlling and modifying the weather by 2050′, we formed “Foundational Unit” to advance research and development using the Super Droplet Method (SDM) and started activities from April 2025.

General Information of SDM Foundational Unit

Period: April 1,2025 – Mar 31,2027 （could be extended to 2032 Mar 31)
Members：

• • Unit Leader: Shin-ichiro Shima
  • Central Members: Manhal Alhilali, PD, and others mostly from Shima Lab members
  • Associated Members: collaborators from other MS8 sub projects and projects, IITM (Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology), etc

Research Plan Summary

Using the Super Droplet Method, we will collaborate with all the core projects and evaluate the effects of cloud microphysical interventions such as seeding planned by each core project.

• • Sophistication of aerosol process and implementation of seeding module
  • Impact assessment for isolated cumulonimbus clouds and guerrilla heavy rainfall
  • Impact assessment for line-shaped convective heavy rainfall
  • Impact assessment for typhoons

Through these processes, we further sophisticate and speed-up the Super Droplet Method.

• • Validation and improvement of SDM through comparison with measurements
  • Acceleration of SDM through algorithm improvement and machine learning

Other activities

• Hands-on of SCALE-SDM 
• Intensive lecture on cloud physics and particle-based cloud modeling
• Try to propose new cloud microphysical actuators.