9802686 Matano This U.S.-Brazil award will support a planning visit between Dr. Ricardo P. Matano, Oregon State University, Dr. E. Chassignet, University of Miami, and Dr. Edmo J. Campos of the University of Sao Paulo, who wish to do a numerical study of the North Brazil Current. The North Brazil Current (NBC) plays a role in the inter hemispheric exchanges of mass and heat by providing the cross-equatorial transport of upper ocean waters to the Atlantic overturning cell. The causes of the current variability and its effects on the inter-hemispheric exchange are poorly known. Dr. Campos is involved in a project entitled, "Rings of the North Brazil Current" which is funded by NSF, to observe this. This planning visit will allow Drs. Matano and Chassignet to consult with Dr. Campos on his portion of the larger project, his responsibiity being the modeling component. These American researchers are experts in to general circulation models, the Miami Isopycnic Coordinate Ocean Model and the Princeton Ocean Model. The three researchers wish to develop a research collaboration which will continue the search for understanding of this phenomenon. ***
