Professor Dr. Andrew Thompson

Biography

Andrew F. Thompson is the John S. Sherry Chen Professor of Environmental Science Engineering at the California Institute of Technology. He serves as the Director of the Ronald Maxine Linde Center for Global Environmental Science and has been an integral part of the Environmental Science department since joining as an Assistant Professor in 2011, becoming a Professor in 2017. Thompson's research focuses on the various physical processes that affect ocean circulation, particularly at the mesoscale, which includes eddies and jets. His work aims to improve our understanding of how ocean dynamics influence global climate, particularly through the study of heat and chemical transport. He utilizes a combination of at-sea observations, numerical models, and theoretical work to enhance knowledge of oceanic processes. Thompson has held numerous academic leadership roles, including Academic Officer and Executive Officer of Environmental Science, and has guided significant research initiatives concerning oceanic responses to atmospheric changes. He earned his B.S. from Dartmouth College, followed by advanced degrees from the University of Cambridge and a Ph.D. from Scripps Institution of Oceanography.

Research Interests

Courses