NIES's Site Layout 1

Main Research Building I

Main Research Building I

Library/Supercomputer

Super Computer&liblary
(Left: Super Computer Right: NIES Library)

This building houses analytical instrumentation and support facilities such as clean rooms. The instruments permit accurate, highly sensitive and selective detection of harmful substances in environmental samples. Stable isotope analysis facilitates research on global warming and the origins of pollutants. Among this building's instruments, listed below, are some that are used for research and development of new analytical methods.

Table of Analytical Instrumentation in Main Research Building I

Standard Instruments (Free Access to Institute Researchers)
Gas Chromatograph/Mass Spectrometer
Gas Chromatograph with Atomic Emission Detector
Scanning Electron Microscope
Transmission Electron Microscope
Ultraviolet-Visible Microscope Spectrophotometer
Inductively Coupled Plasma Emission Spectrometer
Atomic Absorption Spectrometer
X-ray Fluorescence Spectrometer
X-ray Photoelectron Spectrometer
Stable Isotope Mass Spectrometer (for gas samples)
Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrometer
Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectrometer
Flow Cytometer
High-Speed Amino Acid Analyzer
Special Instruments (Restricted Access)
Gas Chromatograph/Mass Spectrometer
High-Performance Liquid Chromatograph/Mass Spectrometer
Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometer
Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometer
High-Resolution Mass Spectrometer
High-Precision Stable Isotope Mass Spectrometer
(for gas samples)
Thermal (Surface) Ionization Mass Spectrometer
(for stable isotopes)
Atmospheric Pressure Ionization Mass Spectrometer
Laser Raman Spectrometer
X-ray Diffractometer

Main Research Building II

Main Research Building II

1) Evaluation Laboratory of Man-Environmental Systems (ELMES) and Systems Analysis and Planning in Intelligent Environmental Information Systems (SAPIENS)

ELMES includes a medium-sized conference room that serves as a group laboratory, a multi-group laboratory for gaming simulations, and minicomputer control devices for experiments, all to facilitate the experimental evaluation of human attitudes toward the environment, the environmental planning process and the effect of environmental information on these. SAPIENS is comprised of an environmental database, an image processing and display system and a minicomputer for presenting environmental information in ELMES. SAPIENS is also used to develop and study local environmental information systems.

2) Preservation Laboratory

This facility includes -20C, 4C and 25C temperature-controlled rooms, a room for -100C and -80C freezers and a room for archives. Environmental specimens are stored here for long periods. Research on specimen preservation is also conducted.

Main Research Building III

Main Research Building III

1) Fourier-Transform Mass Spectrometer (FT-MS)

FT-MS has very high mass resolution, more than 106 at m/z = 131, with a superconducting magnet rated at 3 Tesla. Cluster ions with high mass numbers, isotopes/isobars, and reactions of radicals and ions can be measured with very high mass resolution.

2) Tandem Mass Spectrometer (Tandem-MS)

Two double-focus type mass spectrometers, each with a resolution of 6.5 L 104, are connected serially (in tandem). The ions selected by the first mass spectrometer are modified by electron impacts and other reactions in the interface area and the resulting ions are analyzed by the second mass spectrometer. The chemical structures of complex molecules can be analyzed with this technique.

3) Accelerator Mass Spectrometer (AMS)

An electrostatic tandem accelerator of 5 million V (max.) terminal voltage is interfaced with two ion sources and an analytical mass spectrometer system. Isobaric atomic ions can be distinguished by the electric charges of their nuclei. The AMS is a very sensitive and selective method for atomic ion detection and it is used for measurements of long-lived radioisotopes such as 14C and 36Cl. These radioisotopes are used as tracers and time-markers (dating agents) in environmental research.

4) Hazardous Chemicals Area

Highly toxic substances, such as dioxins (chlorinated dibenzodioxins), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and polychlorinated dibenzofurans, are used in this area. The air pressure inside the area is maintained below atmospheric pressure, which prevents toxic fumes from leaking out. Exhaust air is treated by high-performance filters (HEPA) and charcoal filters; discharge water is also treated with a charcoal filter system. These filters and other wastes are destroyed by appropriate incineration facilities installed within the area. The Hazardous Chemicals Area contains a gas chromatograph/mass spectrometer (GC/MS) and a microcosm, as well as facilities for microorganism-related research, animal exposure experiments and measurements of the physical and chemical properties of substances.

5) Data Handling Facility for the Improved Limb Atmospheric

Spectrometer (ILAS) and the Retroreflector in Space (RIS) ILAS and RIS are satellite-borne sensors for measuring atmospheric constituents, such as ozone, and were developed by the Environment Agency of Japan as components of the Advanced Earth Observing Satellite (ADEOS), named Midori after launching. In August 1996, ADEOS was launched by an H-II rocket from the Tanegashima Space Center of Japan. Data obtained by ILAS/RIS are processed, archived and distributed by NIES. The data handling facility includes a parallel processing computer system, a highspeed network system and software, optimized for processing the data from these satellite sensors.

6) Millimeter-wave Spectrometer System for Observation of Atmospheric Ozone

The millimeter-wave spectrometer is widely and extensively used in astronomical measurements of gaseous molecules in space. Ozone molecules in the stratosphere and mesosphere radiate millimeter-range radio waves. The spectrometer system was completed in October 1995, and since then has continuously monitored the vertical distribution of ozone (35~75 km altitude), except on rainy or heavily overcast days.

7) Eco-Office

This is an office area for evaluating energy-saving/solar-energyutilizing equipment such as wall insulation, solar cells and a solar hot water supply system. Several types of solar cells, such as singlecrystal, multi-crystal and amorphous types, are being compared under identical conditions. The hot water generated is used as the source for a heat-pump type air conditioner as well as for hot water faucets.

8) Reception and Processing Facility for NOAA Satellite Data

The Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) orbits the earth on a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA, USA) satellite. This instrument monitors 5 electromagnetic radiation wavelength bands from the visible to the infrared region with high temporal resolution and a relatively medium spatial resolution (ca. 1 x 1 km). The NIES AVHRR facilities consist of 2 receiving stations -- one at NIES, Tsukuba, and the other on the island of Kuroshima, Okinawa -- and a data processing center at NIES.

9) Information Processing Center for GRID-Tsukuba

GRID-Tsukuba is a part of the Center for Global Environmental Research (CGER). The GRID information processing system was introduced at NIES in 1994. This system, which consists of a remote-sensing image processing system and a geographic information system, is operated by NIES researchers to process GRID data and to produce original data sets. The work stations of this system are connected to a supercomputer, super-minicomputer and personal computers through a LAN. Several software packages, including ERDAS/IMAGINE, ARC/INFO and GRASS, are installed on these workstations. Image processing is done with IDRISI on an IBM/PC.

Research Laboratory of Material Cycles and Waste Management

Research Laboratory of Material Cycles and Waste Management

In April 2001 NIES established the Research Center for Material Cycles and Waste Management, as an expansion of the Waste Research Division that had been created in January in connection with national government’s administrative reforms. Construction of the Waste and Recycling Research Building was begun as part of this expansion. The new building supports research on resource circulation and waste management, resource recovery and recycling, and technologies for environmental risk reduction and restoration after pollution, as well as testing, evaluation and monitoring.