Dr Daniel Brown
Daniel teaches on the Mathematics degree, with a particular interest in mathematical biology and application of compartment models. Daniel's research is in Solar Physics where his expertise lies in sunspots and magnetic structures in the Sun's atmosphere, and he supervises postgraduate students in this area. Daniel is a Fellow of Institute of Mathematics and its Applications, a Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society, and a Fellow of the Higher Education Acadamy.
Daniel's current research direction focusses on the rotation of sunspots and how this can inject energy into the Sun's magnetic field which can be released as a solar flare or eruption. Such eruptions contribute to space weather and can have an impact on the Earth (e.g., the aurora, damage satellites, disrupt communication). Most of his postgraduate supervision is in this area. He has developed a method to measure the rotation profiles of sunspots from observations that was recently published in the journal Solar Physics (2021).
Daniel completed his PhD in Solar Theory at the University of St Andrews in 1999 and went on to become a PostDoctoral Research Assistant for the next 5 years at St Andrews working in Solar Theory, where he helped organise a number of international academic conferences.
Daniel became a lecturer in space physics at Aberystwyth University in 2005, where he also undertook his Postgraduate Certificate in Teaching in Higher Educations (PGCTHE). He also became a visiting academic with RALSpace at the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory.
Daniel joined the University of Central Lancashire in 2009 and has taught on both the Mathematics and Physics degree programmes. He became a Reader in Solar Physics in 2015.
- PGCTHE, Aberystwyth University, 2008
- PhD Solar Theory, University of St Andrews, 2000
- MSc Nonlinear Mathematics, Bath University, 1996
- BSc (Hons) Pure and Applied Mathematics, University of Wales Swansea, 1995
- RAS Group Achievement Award for achievement by a large consortium in geophysics, 2020
- RAS Group Achievement Award for achievement by a large consortium in geophysics, 2013
- Solar Physics
- Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society
- Fellow of the Institute of Mathematics and its Applications
- Fellow of the Higher Education Acadamy
Daniel carries out research into the Sun. He is particularly interested in the Sun's atmospheric magnetic field and phenomena that occur their, such as sunspots, solar flares and coronal mass ejections. The Sun's magnetic field is generated inside the solar interior and can pass through the Sun's "surface" and into the atmosphere at locations such as sunspots (which are areas where intense magnetic field pierce the solar surface and emerge into the solar atmosphere). Sunspots move and rotate which leads to the atmospheric magnetic field becoming twisted and storing energy, but if the twist becomes too much then the magnetic field can "break" releasing the stored energy in the form of light and heat (a solar flare) and acceleration of material (coronal mass ejections). These contribute to space weather and can effect the Earth.
Use the links below to view their profiles:
- Solar Group
- Jeremiah Horrocks Institute for Mathematics, Physics and Astrophysics
- Rotation of Sunspots
Telephone:+44 (0)1772 893305
Email: Email:Dr Daniel Brown
Use the links below to view their profiles: