Akira Kasahara

Long-time National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) scientist, Akira Kasahara, passed away peacefully in his sleep on March 29, 2022. He was 95 years old. Akira was a beloved husband, father, grandfather, friend, and colleague. Akira is survived by his daughters Alice and Margaret (Brian), and his grandchildren Austin and Julia. He is preceded in death by his devoted wife Yuko and son-in-law David. Akira dedicated his life to science and was an internationally known and respected atmospheric scientist. He made foundational contributions to numerical weather prediction and computational climate modeling. He is most notably recognized in Earth system science for having co-launched pioneering efforts to build one of the first general circulation models of the atmosphere. He also made contributions to atmospheric research in planetary waves and tropical cyclone research. Akira came to the United States in the mid-1950's from Tokyo, Japan, where he was born and where he attended the University of Tokyo, graduating with a doctoral degree in physics. His wife Yuko joined him in the United States, where they both became citizens and raised their family. Akira collaborated with colleagues from across the country and throughout the world, traveling to prime educational and research institutions including those in Brazil, Europe, India, Kenya, and Japan. He arrived in Boulder in 1963 and began a lifetime affiliation with NCAR. Akira was instrumental in defining NCAR's community climate modeling philosophy, and his legacy lives on in their continuing collaborations to improve Earth system models. Akira touched many lives and will be remembered as a generous and supportive friend and mentor, as an unassuming and humble colleague, and as a caring and thoughtful father and grandfather. He will be deeply missed. The Kasahara family would like to thank Akira's NCAR/UCAR family of current and former colleagues and staff for their outreach and for sharing their loving remembrances. A memorial is planned for a future date.