Professor Raymond Hide was distinguished for his experimental and theoretical investigations into phenomena in rotating fluids with particular reference to applications in planetary physics. His experiments on thermal convection in a rotating annulus revealed many new phenomena such as jet stream formation and vacillation which stimulated much further work and his experiments on Taylor columns led to a deeper understanding of their properties. Hide solved a number of hydrodynamic stability problems of geophysical importance and contributed to many aspects of geomagnetism. He suggested the only physically plausible theory of the Red Spot of Jupiter as a Taylor column, illustrating it by some interesting experiments; he also drew important conclusions concerning the dynamics of and the generation of the magnetic field within the interior of Jupiter. Hide's work was characterised by much originality and an understanding of the importance of a correct balance between mathematics, experiment and observational analysis in approaching planetary problems.
Professor Raymond Hide CBE FRS died on 5 September 2016.
Biographical Memoir
Subject groups
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Astronomy and Physics
Astronomy
Awards
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Hughes Medal
For his distinguished experimental and theoretical investigations of the hydrodynamics of rotating fluids and the application of such basic studies to the understanding of motions in the atmosphere and interiors of the major planets.
