• Planetary Physics (Interior Structure and Dynamics)

• Geophysical & Astrophysical Fluid Dynamics (Rapidly Rotating Fluid, Stratified Fluid, Dynamo Action)

• Computational Fluid Dynamics (Navier-Stokes Equation, Finite-element Method)

Prof Dali Kong obtained his B.Sc. degree in astronomy (2008) from Dept. of Astronomy, Nanjing University, China. He then obtained his PhD degree in applied mathematics (2012), under the supervision of Prof. Keke Zhang, from College of Engineering, Mathematics and Physical Sciences, University of Exeter, UK. His PhD thesis can be found via University of Exeter ORE system https://ore.exeter.ac.uk/repository/handle/10036/3651 .

   

From October 2012 to March 2015, Dr. Dali Kong worked as an Assosicate Research Fellow at the Centre for Geophysical and Astrophysical Fluid Dynamics, University of Exeter. After that, he further continued working as a Research Fellow from April 2015 until May 2017. 

In June 2017, Dr. Kong was offered a full professorship in Shanghai Astronomical Observatory, Chinese Academy of Sciences. 

In August 2024, Dr. Kong received the National Science Fund for Distinguished Yong Scholars from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC).

By August 2024, Prof. Dali Kong has published more than 50 peer-reviewd journal articles (majority of which are first authored or corresponded) and delivered more than ten conference invited talks.

1. Kong, D. (2023): Preface to the Special Issue on the Macau Science Satellite-1 Mission, Earth and Planetary Physics, 7, 1

2. ​Yuan, L. and Kong, D. (2023):  A joint investigation of Saturn’s deep zonal flow via its gravitational field and Ohmic dissipation, MNRAS, 525, 5978

3. Wang, Y. J., Wang, Y. B., Tang, K. and Kong, D. (2023): Jupiter's Coordinate System Transformations: A Guide for Future Studies of the Jovian System, Earth and Space Science, 10, e2023EA003147

4. Li, W. and Kong, D. (2023): Rapidly rotating self-gravitating Boussinesq fluid. III. A previously unknown zonal oscillation at the onset of rotating convection, Physical Review Fluids (Letter), 8, L011501

5. Li, W. and Kong, D. (2022): Rapidly rotating self-gravitating Boussinesq fluid. II. Onset of thermal inertial convection in oblate spheroidal cavities, Physical Review Fluids, 7, 103502

6. Kong, D. (2022): Rapidly rotating self-gravitating Boussinesq fluid: A nonspherical model of motionless stable stratification, Physical Review Fluids, 7, 074803

7. Zhaojin Rong; Yong Wei; Lucy Klinger; Masatoshi Yamauchi; Wenyao Xu; Dali Kong; Jun Cui; Chao Shen; Yanyan Yang; Rixiang Zhu; Jun Zhong; Lihui Chai (2021): A New Technique to Diagnose the Geomagnetic Field Based on a Single Circular Current Loop Model, Journal of Geophysical Research-Solid Earth, 126, e2021JB022778

8. Lam, K., Kong, D. and Zhang, K. (2021): Localised thermal convection in rotating spheres that undergo weak precession, Geophysical and Astrophysical Fluid Dynamics, 115, 280

9. Li, W., Kong, D., Zhang, K. and Pan, Y. (2020): Depth of Jupiter’s Zonal Flow under the“Shallow-wind” Assumption, ApJ, 897, 85

10. Qin, S., Kong, D., Zhang, K., Schubert, G. and Huang, Y. (2020): Interpreting the Equatorially Antisymmetric Gravitational Field of Saturn Measured by the Cassini Grand Finale, ApJ, 890, 26

11. Liu, S., Kong, D. and Yan, J. (2020): Possible approach to detecting the mysterious Saturnian convective dynamo through gravitational sounding, A&A, 644, A481

12. Kong, D. and Zhang, K. (2020): Lower-order zonal gravitational coefficients caused by zonal circulations inside gaseous planets: Convective flows and numerical comparison between modeling approaches, Earth and Planetary Physics, 4, 1

13. Kong, D., Zhang, K. and Schubert, G. (2019): Depth of the dynamo region and zonal circulation of the molecular layer in Saturn inferred from its equatorially symmetric gravitational field, MNRAS, 488, 5633

14. Kong, D., Zhang, K., Lam, K. and Willis, A. P. (2018): Axially symmetric and latitudinally propagating nonlinear waves in rotating spherical convection, Phys. Rev. E., 98, 031101(R) 

15. Kong, D., Zhang, K., Schubert, G. and Anderson, J. (2018): On the origin of Jupiter’s cloudlevel zonal winds: deep or shallow, the puzzle remains even after Juno, PNAS, 115, 8499

16. Lam, K., Kong, D., and Zhang, K. (2018): Nonlinear thermal inertial waves in rotating fluid spheres, GAFD, 112, 357

17. Kong, D., Zhang, K., Schubert, G. and Anderson, J. (2018): Saturn’s gravitational field induced by its equatorially antisymmetric zonal winds, RAA, 18, 50

18. Kong, D., Zhang, K., Schubert, G. and Anderson, J. (2018): The effect of the equatorially symmetric zonal winds of Saturn on its gravitational field, RAA, 18, 39

19. Kong, D., Zhang, K., Schubert, G. and Anderson, J. (2018): A model of Saturn inferred from its measured gravitational field, RAA, 18, 38

20. Zhang, K., Lam, K and Kong, D. (2017): Asymptotic theory for torsional convection in rotating fluid spheres, J. Fluid Mech., 813, R2

21. Kong, D., Zhang, K. and Schubert, G. (2017): On the interpretation of the equatorially antisymmetric Jovian gravitational field, Mon. Not. R. Astron. Soc., 469, 716

22. Zhang, K., Kong, D. and Schubert, G. (2017): Shape, internal structure, zonal winds and gravitational field of rapidly rotating Jupiter-like planets, Annual Review for Earth and Planetary Sciences, 45, 419

23. Kong, D., Zhang, K. and Schubert, G. (2016): A fully self-consistent, multi-layered model of Jupiter, Astrophys. J., 826, 127

24. Kong, D., Zhang, K. and Schubert, G. (2016): Odd gravitational harmonics of Jupiter: Effects of spherical vs. nonspherical geometry and mathematical smoothing of the equatorially antisymmetric zonal winds across the equatorial plane, Icarus, 277, 416

25. Kong, D., Zhang, K. and Schubert, G. (2016): On the gravitational signature of zonal flows in Jupiter-like planets: An analytical solution and its numerical validation, Physics of the Earth and Planetary Interiors, 263, 1

26. Kong, D., Zhang, K. and Schubert, G. (2016): Using Jupiter’s gravitational field to probe the Jovian convective dynamo, Scientific Reports, 6, 23497

27. Kong, D., Zhang, K. and Schubert, G. (2015): Self-consistent internal structure of a rotating gaseous planet and its comparison with an approximation by oblate spheroidal equidensity surfaces, Physics of the Earth and Planetary Interiors, 249, 43

28. Zhang, K., Liao, X. and Kong, D. (2015): Inertial convection in a rotating narrow annulus: Asymptotic theory and numerical simulation, Phys. Fluids, 27, 106604

29. Zhang, K., Kong, D. and Schubert, G. (2015): Thermal-Gravitational Wind Equation for the Wind-Induced Gravitational Signature of Giant Gaseous Planets: Mathematical Derivation, Numerical Method and Illustrative Solutions, Astrophys. J., 806, 270

30. Kong, D., Zhang, K. and Schubert, G. (2015): Wind-Induced Odd Gravitational Harmonics of Jupiter, Mon. Not. R. Astron. Soc. Lett., 450, L11

31. Kong, D., Zhang, K. and Schubert, G. (2015): An exact solution for arbitrarily rotating gaseous polytropes with index unity, Mon. Not. R. Astron. Soc., 448, 456

32. Jiang, J., Kong, D., Zhu, R. and Zhang, K. (2015): Precessing cylinders at the second and third resonance: Turbulence controlled by geostrophic flow, Phys. Rev. E, 92, 033007

33. Kong, D., Cui, Z., Liao, X. and Zhang, K. (2015): On the transition from the laminar to disordered flow in a precessing spherical-like cylinder, GAFD, 109, 62

34. Kong, D., Liao, X., Zhang, K. and Schubert, G. (2014): The shape, internal structure and gravity of the fast spinner β Pictoris b, Mon. Not. R. Astron. Soc. Lett., 445, L26

35. Kong, D., Liao, X., Zhang, K. and Schubert, G. (2014): Equatorial Zonal Jets and Jupiter's Gravity, Astrophys. J. Lett., 791, L24

36. Kong, D., Liao, X. and Zhang, K. (2014): The sidewall-localized mode in a resonant precessing cylinder, Phys. Fluid, 26, 051703

37. Hubbard, W. B., Schubert, G., Kong, D. and Zhang, K. (2014): On the Convergence of the Theory of Figures, Icarus, 242, 138

38. Kong, D., Lin, W., Pan, Y and Zhang, K. (2014): Swimming motion of rod-shaped magnetotactic bacteria: the effects of shape and growing magnetic moment, Frontiers in Aquatic Microbiology, 5, Article 8

39. Kong, D., Liao, X., Zhang, K, and Schubert, G. (2013): Gravitational Signature of Rotationally Distorted Jupiter Caused by Deep Zonal Winds, Icarus, 226, 1425

40. Kong, D., Wang, T., Kou, D. and Liu, M. (2013): A Polytropic Model of Rapidly Rotating α-Eri, Progress in Astronomy, 31, 213

41. Kong, D., Zhang, K. and Schubert, G. (2013): On the Gravitational Fields of Maclaurin Spheroid Models of Rotating Fluid Planets, Astrophys. J., 764, 67

42. Kong, D., Zhang, K., Schubert, G. and Anderson, J. (2013): A Three-Dimensional Numerical Solution for the Shape of a Rotationally Distorted Polytrope of Index Unity, Astrophys. J., 763, 116

43. Cui, Z., Kong, D., Pan, Y. and Zhang, K. (2012): On the swimming motion of spheroidal magnetotactic bacteria, Fluid Dynamics Research (Fluid Dynamics Research 2012 Highlights Collection), 44, 055508

44. Kong, D., Cui, Z., Pan, Y. and Zhang, K. (2012): On Stokes flows driven by a translating/rotating prolate spheroid at arbitrary angles, Int. J. of Pure and Applied Mathematics, 75, 455

45. Kong, D., Zhang, K., and Schubert, G. (2012): On the variation of zonal gravity coefficients of a giant planet caused by its deep zonal flows, Astrophys. J., 748, 143

46. Schubert, G., Anderson, J., Zhang, K., Kong, D., Helled, R. (2011): Shapes and gravitational fields of rotating two-layer Maclaurin ellipsoids: Application to planets and satellites, Physics of the Earth and Planetary Interiors, 187, 364

47. Kong, D., Zhang, K. and Schubert, G. (2010): Shapes of two-layer models of rotating planets, J. Geophys. Res.: Planets, 115, E12003

48. Zhang, K., Kong, D. and Liao, X. (2010): On fluid flows in precessing narrow annular channels: asymptotic analysis and numerical simulation, J. Fluid Mech., 656, 116

49. Yuan, F., Zhu, Z. and Kong, D. (2008): Revisiting the Local Kinematics of the Milky Way Using the New Hipparcos Data, Chin. J. Astron. Astrophys., 8, 714

50. Kong, D. and Zhu, Z. (2008): A Study of the Scale Height of the Thin Galactic Disk in the Solar Neighborhood, Chinese Astronomy and Astrophysics, 32, 360

His main areas of researches are theoretical and computational fluid mechanics, high performance computing  and planetary sciences. Specifically, he is recently devoted to researches including:

1. Non-spherical shape, internal structure and gravitational field of fast rotating gaseous planets

2. Physical equation of state (EOS) of gaseous planets

3. Deep zonal winds and vortices in the atmosphere of giant planets

4. Tidally distorted hot-Jupiters in exo-planetary systems

5. Thermal convections and dynamo processes in rotating planetary fluid systems

6. High performance computing techniques and applications to computational planetary physics

Invited Talk

1. BEPIS meeting, Beijing, China, 7 Aug 2022 – 9 Aug 2022

2. XXXI IUPAP Conference on Computational Physics, Hong Kong, 28 July 2019 – 1 Aug 2019

3. The 2019 Macau Forum for Planetary Sciences: the Interiors of Jupiter and Saturn, Macau, 25 Nov 2019 – 29 Nov 2019

4. 18th National Meeting of Chinese Astronomical Society (plenary talk), Kunming, China, 27 Oct 2018 – 31 Oct 2018

5. 2018 CGU Annual Meeting, Session: 65 Planetary Physics (invited talk, 25 min), Beijing, China, 20 October 2018 – 23 October 2018

6. 1st Workshop of Solar System Planetary Physics, Shanghai, China, 26 July 2018 – 28 July 2018

7. International Symposium of Lunar and Planetary Science 2018, Macau, 13 June 2018 – 15 June 2018

8. AOGS 15th Annual Meeting, Session: PS13 Planetary Interiors and Magnetism, Honolulu, US, 3 June 2018 – 8 June 2018

9. AOGS 14th Annual Meeting, Session: PS09 Atmospheres and Interiors of Jupiter and Saturn, Singapore, 6 August 2017 – 11 August 2017

10. 2016 CGU Annual Meeting, Sessoion: 84 Planetary Physics, Beijing, China, 14 October 2016 – 18 October 2016

11. AGU 2013 Fall Meeting, Session: Shape, Internal Structure, Gravity, and Winds of Jupiter and Saturn, San Francisco, US, 9 December 2013 – 13 December 2013

12. 13th National meeting of Chinese Astronomical Society, Suzhou, China, 27 Oct 2013 – 31 Oct 2013

13. BEPIS meeting (invited talk, 20 min), Beijing, China, 28 June 2013 – 30 June 2013

14. 3rd Workshop on Rotational Fluid Dynamics for Planetary and Stellar Applications, Exeter, UK, 29 May 2013 – 30 May 2013

Current MSc Student(s):

Mr. Yixing Li

Current Ph. D. Student(s):

Mr. Xiuyu Chen

Mr. Xutong Yuan

Ms. Xujiao Zhu

Ms. Yujie Wang

Co-supervised Students(s):

Mr. Wenbo Li (Ph. D., Macau University of Science and Techonology)

Awards

1. The Royal Astronomical Society Winton Capital Prize (G), 2016

2. The article ‘On the swimming motion of spheroidal magnetotactic bacteria’ by Zhen Cui, Dali

Kong, Yongxin Pan and Keke Zhang selected for Fluid Dynamics Research ‘Highlights of 2012’

collection, 2012

3. Prize for the best PhD student at stage 1, Mathematics Research Institute, University of Exeter,

2010