Adsorption of H and D on HOPG surfaces was studied with thermal desorption (TDS), electronic (ELS), and high-resolution electron-energy-loss (HREELS) spectroscopies. After admission of H (D) from thermal (2000 K) atom sources to clean graphite surfaces TD spectra revealed recombinative molecular H-2 (D-2) desorption in a main peak around 445 K (490 K) and a minor peak at 560 K (580 K). After admission of higher fluences the main peak shifts to 460 K (500 K) and develops a shoulder at 500 K (540 K). The saturation coverages were calculated as 0.4+/-0.2 for H and D and initial sticking coefficients of 0.4+/-0.2 were obtained. Through leading edge analysis of the TD spectra desorption activation energies for H and D were determined as 0.6 and 0.95 eV, respectively. EL spectra suggest a 16% loss of the sp(2) character of the surface carbon 2sp electrons upon D adsorption. HREEL spectra of H (D) graphite covered surfaces reveal in addition to two graphite-intrinsic optical phonon losses vibrational features at 1210 and 2650 cm 21 (and 640 and 1950 cm(-1)). These frequencies are in excellent agreement with those obtained from a recently published H (D)/graphite potential energy surface. A theoretical description of the desorption process through calculated H+H/graphite potential surfaces reveals the desorption mechanism and desorption activation energies which are in good agreement with the measured data.