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Home > News > By Jupiter

By Jupiter

Berkeley Engineer Spring 2014
May 1, 2014 by Julianna Fleming
This article appeared in Berkeley Engineer magazine, Spring 2014
  • In this issue

    Features

    The last firewall

    Water 4.0

    Engineering social justice

    Dean’s Word

    Upfront

    • Bot on a budget
    • Art imitates academia
    • Optimal distillation
    • Q&A on L.A. seismic study
    • Moonshadow
    • Comments

    Breakthroughs

    • By Jupiter
    • Out for a spin
    • About a bone
    • Reprogrammed
    • True colors

    Alumni notes

    • Memorial Stadium goes Kabam
    • Tundra scientist
    • Farewell

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Probably the most distinctive characteristic of Jupiter is the Great Red Spot, a gigantic storm that was first observed in its atmosphere over 400 years ago. Scientists have struggled to understand why the Red Spot—about two to three times the size of Earth—has persisted for so long. But recent work from Philip Marcus, professor of mechanical engineering, in collaboration with Pedram Hassanzadeh (Ph.D.’13 ME), may explain the Red Spot’s longevity. The team built a high-resolution, fully three-dimensional model and learned that vertical flows transport hot and cold gases to the storm’s center, helping restore its energy. In addition, the model predicted a radial flow that draws in winds from high speed jet streams; the vortex may absorb some smaller vortices as well. Their work might also explain why oceanic vortices here on Earth can endure for years, as well as identify the role vertical flows play in the formation of stars and planets.

Topics: Research, Faculty, Mechanical engineering, Students
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