David Brain
Department Chair

Office:

D133 (Duane), N246 (SPSC)

I am interested in how atmospheres evolve, and especially in transitions to and from habitable states. I use tool such as spacecraft measurements and computer simulations to figure out how much atmosphere escapes to space. I think about: whether magnetic fields are essential for surface habitability on solar system planets and exoplanets, how the Sun and solar wind energizes upper atmospheres, and plasma processes at Mars, Venus, and Earth. But I can be tempted into thinking about other interesting problems as well...

Selected Recent Publications