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Kevin H. Baines

Principal Scientist
Jet Propulsion Laboratory
4800 Oak Grove Drive M/S 169-237
Pasadena, CA 91109

Co-I, Cassini/VIMS and Associate on New Frontiers, and Co-I on Galileo/NIMS, specializing in the acquisition and interpretation of atmospheric data pertaining to meteorology and dynamics of the Major Planets, including major storm systems.

Title: Depths of Saturn and Jupiter Revealed by Modern Spacecraft

Abstract:

New views of the depths of Saturn have been obtained by Cassini, New Horizons, and Galileo, revealing (1) stormy cloud and wave systems below the upper covering of ammonia clouds that have traditionally limited our view into these giant worlds, (2) violent, convective storms of ammonia clouds in the upper cloud layers, and (3) polar vortex dynamics, including a bizarre hexagonal feature at the north pole of Saturn. These new views are achieved with near-infrared images operating about 7 times the wavelength of light visible to the human eye. This talk will present the newest views and movies of these storm and wave systems as observed in Saturn and Jupiter and discuss the latest insights into their link to dynamics several thousand kilometers below the clouds in the depths of these planets.

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