9603048 Tsunoda This award supports a two year collaborative research project between Dr. Roland Tsunoda of Stanford Research Institute (SRI) International and Professor Shoichiro Fukao of Kyoto University in Tokyo. The focus of this project is a study of the low-latitude ionosphere. The major goals of this project are: 1) to initiate discussion among scientists from Japan and the western Pacific region; and (2) to develop a cooperative plan that will lead to the establishment of a chain of ionospheric monitoring stations that will extend from Taiwan in the northern hemisphere, through the Philippines and eastern Malaysia, and into Indonesia in the southern hemisphere. Cooperative research with scientists from developing countries il the western Pacific region is expected to have important mutual benefits. For scientists from developed countries, the monitoring stations will provide unique and important measurements, which can be used to address some of the outstanding questions that remain in low-latitude ionospheric physics. An additional benefit will be the local support provided by scientists from those regions in the operation of the monitoring stations. Scientists from the developing countries will benefit from establishment of important research facilities in their region and the availability of data from the monitoring stations. Through the exchange of ideas and technology, this project will broaden our base of knowledge and promote international understanding and cooperation. ***
