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Harrison Nicholls (he/him)

Graduate student

Research theme

  • Astronomy and astrophysics

Sub department

  • Atmospheric, Oceanic and Planetary Physics

Research groups

  • Planetary Climate Dynamics
harrison.nicholls@physics.ox.ac.uk
Atmospheric Physics Clarendon Laboratory, room 113
nichollsh.github.io
  • About
  • Publications

Summary

I am interested in the chemical evolution of planetary atmospheres. The complex relationship between their interiors, surfaces, atmospheres is not yet well understood. We can trace out the evolution pathways of these planets using numerical models, which is not only critical for interpreting telescope observations but also important for understanding how planets change over time.

I have developed a 1D model for magma ocean planets which resolves their physics from core to space, including processes such as radiative transfer and chemical kinetics. By using this model, we can test which atmospheres are developed during a planet's solidification, and how that links to their modern-day conditions.

Previously, I investigated the chemical evolution of hot-Jupiter atmospheres forced by with stellar activity. In some cases, the impact of stellar flares on these planets yields compositional changes which are observable with JWST.

I am supported by a Clarendon Scholarship, a Margaret Thatcher Scholarship, and the Science and Technology Facilities Council.

Research interests

Exoplanets
Astrochemistry
Radiative transfer
Planet formation
Thermodynamics

Selected publications

Temperature–chemistry coupling in the evolution of gas giant atmospheres driven by stellar flares

Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society Oxford University Press 523:4 (2023) 5681-5702
Harrison Nicholls, Olivia Venot
See all publications

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