Andrew F. Thompson
Andrew F. Thompson
John S. and Sherry Chen Professor of Environmental Science and Engineering; Director, Ronald and Maxine Linde Center for Global Environmental Science; Executive Officer for Environmental Science and Engineering
B.S., Dartmouth College, 2000; C.A.S., University of Cambridge, 2001, M.Phil., 2002; Ph.D., Scripps Institute of Oceanography, 2006. Assistant Professor, Caltech, 2011-17; Professor, 2017-24; Chen Professor, 2024-; Academic Officer, 2019-22; Director, Linde Center, 2023-; Executive Officer, 2023-.
Research Summary
A myriad of physical processes, spanning scales from centimeters to hundreds of kilometers, contribute to the ocean circulation. Improvements in observational techniques as well as numerical models are just now allowing us to develop and test theories on how the ocean mesoscale, lengths scales of tens of kilometers and times scales from days to weeks, influence the global circulation. The ocean mesoscale is dominated by coherent structures, such as eddies and jets, which are important for the stirring and distribution of ocean properties such as temperature and salinity. Improved understanding of how the ocean mesoscale mediates the circulation's response to changing atmospheric forcing can help us to better model past and future climates. My research uses a combination of sea-going observations, idealized numerical models and theory to study how the ocean mesoscale influences the transport of heat, chemicals and biology in the ocean and how this transport in turn impacts global climate. I am especially interested in Southern Ocean dynamics, which is a key part of the global circulation both for the formation of unique water masses and for exchange between different ocean basins.
Research Options
Environmental Science and Engineering;
Publications
Please see Andrew Thompson's publications page:
2025-26
ESE 102. Earth's Oceans.
9 units (3-0-6); first term, 2025-26.
This course will provide a basic introduction to physical, chemical, and biological properties of Earth's ocean. The course is divided into three parts that address various aspects of the marine carbon cycle, including carbon and tracer transport by the ocean circulation, carbonate chemistry, and fixation/respiration of carbon by biological processes. These parts are tied to three key questions that highlight the ocean's role in the global climate system: What processes contribute to changes in global and local sea level? How and where does the ocean exchange carbon dioxide with the atmosphere? Why is a warming climate associated with ocean acidification and what are the biological consequences? The course will also provide perspectives on how we observe and model the ocean and how these tools are used in climate predictions.
Instructor: Thompson
Instructor: Thompson
ESE 144. Climate from Space.
9 units (3-0-6); third term, 2025-26.
This class will provide an overview of how we study the Earth's climate system using satellite remote sensing; a series of core lectures and guest lectures will be jointly taught by Caltech faculty and JPL scientists. Topics that will be covered include Introduction to the climate system; introduction to radiative transfer, retrieval methods and data assimilation; Earth's energy balance; atmospheric physics and composition; ocean dynamics and ice physics; monitoring the carbon cycle from space.
Offered 2025-26.
Instructors: Teixeira, Thompson
Instructors: Teixeira, Thompson
2024-25
ESE 102. Earth's Oceans.
9 units (3-0-6); first term, 2024-25.
This course will provide a basic introduction to physical, chemical, and biological properties of Earth's ocean. The course is divided into three parts that address various aspects of the marine carbon cycle, including carbon and tracer transport by the ocean circulation, carbonate chemistry, and fixation/respiration of carbon by biological processes. These parts are tied to three key questions that highlight the ocean's role in the global climate system: What processes contribute to changes in global and local sea level? How and where does the ocean exchange carbon dioxide with the atmosphere? Why is a warming climate associated with ocean acidification and what are the biological consequences? The course will also provide perspectives on how we observe and model the ocean and how these tools are used in climate predictions.
Instructor: Thompson
Instructor: Thompson
ESE 137. Polar Oceanography.
9 units (3-0-6); third term, 2024-25.
Prerequisites: ESE 131 or instructor's permission.
This course focuses on high latitude processes related to the Earth's oceans and their interaction with the cryosphere, including glaciers, ice shelves and sea ice. The course starts with introductory lectures related to regional circulation features, water mass modification and ice dynamics. The second half of the course will focus on a single topic, with input from the students, and will be explored in detail through the scientific literature and through individual projects.
Instructor: Thompson
Instructor: Thompson
2021-22
Ge 10. Frontiers in Geological and Planetary Sciences.
2 units (2-0-0); second term, 2021-22.
The course may be taken multiple times. Weekly seminar by a member of the Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences or a visitor to discuss a topic of his or her current research at an introductory level. The course is designed to introduce students to research and research opportunities in the division and to help students find faculty sponsors for individual research projects. Graded pass/fail.
Instructor: Thompson
Instructor: Thompson
ESE 102. Earth's Oceans.
9 units (3-0-6); first term, 2021-22.
This course will provide a basic introduction to physical, chemical, and biological properties of Earth's ocean. The course is divided into three parts that address various aspects of the marine carbon cycle, including carbon and tracer transport by the ocean circulation, carbonate chemistry, and fixation/respiration of carbon by biological processes. The focus of the course is on understanding the processes that give rise to observed distributions of physical and biogeochemical properties in the ocean. We will also discuss the ocean's role in the climate system as well as in situ and remote sensing techniques for monitoring changing ocean properties.
Instructor: Thompson
Instructor: Thompson
ESE 137. Polar Oceanography.
9 units (3-0-6); third term, 2021-22.
Prerequisites: ESE 131 or instructor's permission.
This course focuses on high latitude ocean processes related to the Earth's oceans and their interaction with the cryosphere, including glaciers, ice shelves and sea ice. The course starts with introductory lectures related to regional circulation features, water mass modification and ice dynamics. The second half of the course will focus on a single topic, with input from the students, and will be explored in detail through the scientific literature and through individual projects. Given in alternate years; offered 2021-2022.
Instructor: Thompson
Instructor: Thompson