Waves of Topological Origin in Earth’s Atmosphere and Beyond
- Speaker
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Brad Marston, Ph.D.Brown Theoretical Physics Center, Vice President, American Physical Society, Brown University
The 2024 lecture series in physics is “Atmospheres: Earth to Exoplanets.” The thin layer of liquids and gas that envelops our planet allows life to flourish. In these lectures, scientists will discuss emerging research on Earth’s atmosphere — from the ocean to the sky — and the atmospheres of other planets, from our nearest neighbors to worlds orbiting distant stars.
2024 Lecture Series Themes
Mathematics and Computer Science: Machine Learning in the Natural Sciences
Presidential Lectures are free public colloquia centered on four main themes: Biology, Physics, Mathematics and Computer Science, and Neuroscience and Autism Science. These curated, high-level scientific talks feature leading scientists and mathematicians and are intended to foster discourse and drive discovery among the broader NYC-area research community. We invite those interested in the topic to join us for this weekly lecture series.
Naturalist John Muir wrote, “When we try to pick out anything by itself, we find it hitched to everything else in the universe.” There’s no better illustration of Muir’s observation than the fluid Earth system.
In this Presidential Lecture, Brad Marston will discuss a surprising connection recently discovered between the atmosphere and quantum physics. Observations of the stratosphere reveal non-trivial topology, providing us with a new perspective on the origin of certain waves that travel around the equator and drive oscillations in the climate. The atmospheres of other worlds, he says, may likewise be viewed as topological insulators.
About the Speaker
Marston is a professor of physics at Brown University and director of the Brown Theoretical Physics Center. He serves as vice president of the American Physical Society and will become its president in 2026. Trained in quantum matter physics, Marston also works on the statistical modeling of turbulence, geophysical fluid dynamics and climate physics. In his spare time, he backpacks long distances and maintains trails.