Brian Toon

Brian

Toon

Brian.Toon@lasp.colorado.edu

Senior Research Scientist

We are running climate models for Earth, Mars and exoplanets. We are particularly interested in the role of clouds and aerosols in climate. Various students are investigating geo-engineering using sulfates to counter the greenhouse effect, how to solve the faint young sun problem on early Earth, how river valleys formed on ancient Mars, how aerosols behave in the atmosphere and impact climate, how the upper atmosphere is polluted by sulfur emissions and volcanic eruptions, how polar stratospheric clouds form and impact ozone, how smoke from fires may influence climate, and how the use of nuclear weapons may threaten global civilization.

Honors & Awards

AAAS Fellow, conferred by American Association for the Advancement of Science, The — 2021

Carl-Gustaf Rossby Research Medal, The , conferred by American Meteorological Society — 2014

Distinguished Research Lectureship, conferred by Research & Innovation Office — 2013

Roger Revelle Medal, conferred by American Geophysical Union — 2011

Robert L. Stearns Award, conferred by Alumni Association — 2009

Atmospheric Sciences Section/Jule Charney Lecture, conferred by American Geophysical Union — 2008

Highly Cited Researcher, conferred by Web of Science — 2001

Union Fellows, conferred by American Geophysical Union — 1992

Leo Szilard Lectureship Award, conferred by American Physical Society — 1985

Selected publications

Zhu Y; Yu P; Wang X; Bardeen C; Borrmann S; Hoepfner M; Mahnke C; Weigel R; Kraemer M; Deshler T, Evaluating the Importance of Nitrate-Containing Aerosols for the Asian Tropopause Aerosol Layer. Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres. 2024 Journal Article