Primarily, I study the heat loss mechanisms within planetary interiors. My work employs the fundamental principles of fluid dynamics, constrained by the empirical evidences derived from geological field studies, geochemical experiments, as well as remote sensing and in situ observations. The goal here is to identify and understand the basic geophysical processes associated with the efficiency, or rather inefficiency, of buoyancy-driven convection within the solid interior of a planet over geological time. My research, at present, involves modeling and simulating early thermal history of terrestrial bodies—including Venus, Earth, and Mars. It emphasizes the role of lithospheric stress state and planetary surface temperature to determine the tectonic regime exhibited by these bodies. Surface temperature can act as a simple proxy for planetary climate. Established by the greenhouse effect, it also serves as the primary feedback between the atmosphere and mantle. Meaning, planetary surface temperature can link atmospheric evolution to the dynamics of the deep interior of terrestrial bodies. I also worked on the thermal evolution of Titan’s crust to investigate the source of its atmospheric methane.
I am particularly interested in making use of mantle dynamics and high performance computing to address problems in solid Earth geophysics and planetary science. To better constrain my modeling work, geophysical, geochemical, and geomorphological data can provide critical information about the formation and evolution of Earth and other planets. I am pursuing data analysis projects along with participation in missions to acquire these data. Also, I am always looking forward to working on interdisciplinary projects. I am passionate about research efforts that cross traditional disciplinary boundaries—for example, following a systems science approach—to leverage and expand my skill set.
I received my Ph.D. in planetary science in 2021 from the Department of Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences, Hampton University, Hampton, VA, USA. I worked under Prof. Dr. William B. Moore for my dissertation research. It was supported by The Living, Breathing Planet team, as a part of NASA’s Nexus for Exoplanet System Science (NExSS) collaboration network. Also, I was a graduate research assistant at the National Institute of Aerospace. I received my M.S. in planetary science from Hampton University in 2019. I got my first master’s degree in geology from the University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK, USA. I studied geology as an undergraduate student at the University of Dhaka, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
LINKS:
- Keybase public profile for verified personal links and PGP (public) key—https://keybase.io/dbasusarkar
- Direct link to my personal website—https://dbasusarkar.github.io