LuAnn Thompson is the Walters Endowed Professor at the
University of Washington. She is known for her work in modeling the movement of heat and chemicals via ocean currents.
Education and career
Thompson grew up in northern California and was interested in astrophysics.[1] She received a B.S. in physics from the
University of California, Davis (1983), an M.A. in physics from
Harvard University (1986), and a Ph.D. from
Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (1990). Following her Ph.D. she moved to the University of Washington first as a post-doctoral fellow, and then she joined the faculty in 1993. She was promoted to professor in 2010 and named the Walters Professor of Oceanography in 2016.[2]
Research
Thompson's early research developed models of water flow[3] and used laboratory experiments to examine the production of eddies.[4] Subsequent research examined the factors controlling
sea surface height,[5][6] which she measures using data from satellites,[7] and the physical conditions in the ocean that lead to the formation of water masses.[8][9] Through collaborative projects she has examined how changes in water circulation alter the oxygen levels in seawater[10][11] and how
marine heatwaves will impact marine ecosystems.[12][13] In ongoing policy discussions, Thompson seeks to use science to support discussions on climate change[14][15] and analyzes factors limiting promotion of women in science.[16][17][18]
LuAnn Thompson is the Walters Endowed Professor at the
University of Washington. She is known for her work in modeling the movement of heat and chemicals via ocean currents.
Education and career
Thompson grew up in northern California and was interested in astrophysics.[1] She received a B.S. in physics from the
University of California, Davis (1983), an M.A. in physics from
Harvard University (1986), and a Ph.D. from
Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (1990). Following her Ph.D. she moved to the University of Washington first as a post-doctoral fellow, and then she joined the faculty in 1993. She was promoted to professor in 2010 and named the Walters Professor of Oceanography in 2016.[2]
Research
Thompson's early research developed models of water flow[3] and used laboratory experiments to examine the production of eddies.[4] Subsequent research examined the factors controlling
sea surface height,[5][6] which she measures using data from satellites,[7] and the physical conditions in the ocean that lead to the formation of water masses.[8][9] Through collaborative projects she has examined how changes in water circulation alter the oxygen levels in seawater[10][11] and how
marine heatwaves will impact marine ecosystems.[12][13] In ongoing policy discussions, Thompson seeks to use science to support discussions on climate change[14][15] and analyzes factors limiting promotion of women in science.[16][17][18]