Skip to main content
DEI in GPS
Access
Directory
Quick Links Click here to open the "Quick Links" submenu Down arrow
Quick Links for Faculty Quick Links for Staff Quick Links for Students
Caltech Logo
Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences
People
Professorial Faculty
Emeritus Faculty
Research Faculty
Visiting Faculty and Visitors
Postdoctoral Scholars
Graduate Students
Undergraduate Students
JPL Scientist
Research Staff
Support Staff
Research
Research Programs Open Research Programs Submenu
Geology Geobiology Geochemistry Geophysics Planetary Sciences Environmental Science and Engineering
Research Centers Open Research Centers Submenu
The Bruce Murray Lab Caltech Center for Comparative Planetary Evolution (3CPE) Climate Modeling Alliance (CliMA) Geomechanics and Mitigation of Geohazards (GMG) The Linde Center Seismological Laboratory Terrestrial Hazards Observation and Reporting (THOR)
Research Lab Schedule
Research Facilities - On Campus
Research Facilities - Off Campus
Research Administration
Academics
Undergraduate Program Open Undergraduate Program Submenu
Program Requirements GPS Minor
Graduate Program Open Graduate Program Submenu
Program Requirements Grad Program FAQs Admissions Advising Information for new grad students Master's Degree Doctoral Degree
Student Resources
Courses Open Courses Submenu
Online Courses Winter 2021 Course Offerings 2020-2021 Course Descriptions Setup a Class Website GPS Courses (2020-21)
Field Trips Open Field Trips Submenu
Contact Information Form for Class Field Trips Contact Information Form for Research Field Trips Field Vehicle Availability
Resources
DEI in GPS Open DEI in GPS Submenu
DEI Committee DEI Funding DEI Comment Form DEI Meeting Agendas and Minutes References on DEI in Geosciences Related Activities
Libraries Open Libraries Submenu
GPS Library Caltech Library Mineral Collection
Meeting Facilities Open Meeting Facilities Submenu
GPS Patio Tables
Safety Resources Open Safety Resources Submenu
GPS Emergency Procedures Emergency Action Plan (PDF) Safety Contacts Workplace Safety Checklist Evacuation Map
Quick Links
News & Events
GPS Events this Week Open GPS Events this Week Submenu
GPS Group Calendar
Award Announcements
News
Calendar
About
GPS History
GPS at a Glance
Contact Open Contact Submenu
Administrative and Grants Management Contact List (PDF) GPS Directory (PDF) Academic Leadership
Visit
Positions Available Open Positions Available Submenu
Faculty Positions Postdoctoral Positions Staff Positions
Support
In the News
Open search form
Menu Main Menu
Close
People Click here to open the "People" Submenu
Research Click here to open the "Research" Submenu
Academics Click here to open the "Academics" Submenu
Resources Click here to open the "Resources" Submenu
News & Events Click here to open the "News & Events" Submenu
About Click here to open the "About" Submenu
DEI in GPS
Access
Directory
Quick Links
Quick Links for Faculty Quick Links for Staff Quick Links for Students
People
Back
Professorial Faculty Emeritus Faculty Research Faculty Visiting Faculty and Visitors Postdoctoral Scholars Graduate Students Undergraduate Students JPL Scientist Research Staff Support Staff
Research
Back
Research Programs Geology Geobiology Geochemistry Geophysics Planetary Sciences Environmental Science and Engineering Research Centers The Bruce Murray Lab Caltech Center for Comparative Planetary Evolution (3CPE) Climate Modeling Alliance (CliMA) Geomechanics and Mitigation of Geohazards (GMG) The Linde Center Seismological Laboratory Terrestrial Hazards Observation and Reporting (THOR) Research Lab Schedule Research Facilities - On Campus Research Facilities - Off Campus Research Administration
Academics
Back
Undergraduate Program Program Requirements GPS Minor Graduate Program Program Requirements Grad Program FAQs Admissions Advising Information for new grad students Master's Degree Doctoral Degree Student Resources Courses Online Courses Winter 2021 Course Offerings 2020-2021 Course Descriptions Setup a Class Website GPS Courses (2020-21) Field Trips Contact Information Form for Class Field Trips Contact Information Form for Research Field Trips Field Vehicle Availability
Resources
Back
DEI in GPS DEI Committee DEI Funding DEI Comment Form DEI Meeting Agendas and Minutes References on DEI in Geosciences Related Activities Libraries GPS Library Caltech Library Mineral Collection Meeting Facilities GPS Patio Tables Safety Resources GPS Emergency Procedures Emergency Action Plan (PDF) Safety Contacts Workplace Safety Checklist Evacuation Map Quick Links
News & Events
Back
GPS Events this Week GPS Group Calendar Award Announcements News Calendar
About
Back
GPS History GPS at a Glance Contact Administrative and Grants Management Contact List (PDF) GPS Directory (PDF) Academic Leadership Visit Positions Available Faculty Positions Postdoctoral Positions Staff Positions Support In the News
Open search form
Andy Thompson
Office: 224 Linde+Robinson Laboratory
Phone: 626-395-8345
Mail Code: MC 131-24
Administrative Assistant
Bronagh Glaser
Email: bglaser@gps.caltech.edu
Phone: 626-395-8732
link Research Website
link Personal Website
Home  /  People  /  Andrew F. Thompson

Andrew F. Thompson

Professor of Environmental Science and Engineering; Divisional Academic Officer for Geological and Planetary Sciences
Division Academic Officer; 
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-; Academic Officer, 2019-.
  • Profile
  • Publications
  • Teaching
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; 

Please see Andrew Thompson's publications page:

http://web.gps.caltech.edu/~andrewt/publications.html

Ge 10. Frontiers in Geological and Planetary Sciences. 2 units (2-0-0); second term, 2020-21. 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
ESE 102. Earth's Oceans. 9 units (3-0-6); first term, 2020-21. This course will provide a basic introduction to physical, chemical and biological properties of Earth's ocean. Topics to be covered include: oceanographic observational and numerical methods as well as the phenomenology and distribution of temperature, salinity, and tracers. Fundamentals of ocean dynamics, such as Ekman layers, wind-driven gyres, and overturning circulations. Ocean biology and chemistry: simple plankton population models, Redfield ratios, air-sea gas exchange, productivity and respiration, carbon cycle basics. Changes in ocean circulation over Earth's history and its impact on past climate changes.
Instructor: Thompson
ESE 137. Polar Oceanography. 9 units (3-0-6); third term, 2020-21. Prerequisites: ESE 131 or instructor's permission. This course focuses on high latitude processes related to the 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. A single topic will be selected to explore in detail through the scientific literature and through individual projects. Given in alternate years; not offered 2020-21.
Instructor: Thompson
Ge 10. Frontiers in Geological and Planetary Sciences. 2 units (2-0-0); second term, 2019-20. 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
ESE 102. Earth's Oceans. 9 units (3-0-6); first term, 2019-20. This course will provide a basic introduction to physical, chemical and biological properties of Earth's ocean. Topics to be covered include: oceanographic observational and numerical methods as well as the phenomenology and distribution of temperature, salinity, and tracers. Fundamentals of ocean dynamics, such as Ekman layers, wind-driven gyres, and overturning circulations. Ocean biology and chemistry: simple plankton population models, Redfield ratios, air-sea gas exchange, productivity and respiration, carbon cycle basics. Changes in ocean circulation over Earth's history and its impact on past climate changes.
Instructor: Thompson
ESE 104. Current Problems in Environmental Science and Engineering. 1 unit; first term, 2019-20. Discussion of current research by ESE graduate students, faculty, and staff.
Instructor: Thompson
ESE 137. Polar Oceanography. 9 units (3-0-6); third term, 2019-20. Prerequisites: ESE 131 or instructor's permission. This course focuses on high latitude processes related to the 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. A single topic will be selected to explore in detail through the scientific literature and through individual projects. Given in alternate years; Offered 2019-20.
Instructor: Thompson
Caltech Torch
Caltech Logo
California Institute of Technology
map marker
1200 East California Boulevard
Pasadena, California 91125
Contact Us Report a Copyright Infringement Website Feedback Privacy Notice Site Content Copyright © 2021 Log In