Andrew Thompson

Professor of Environmental Science & Engineering
Ph.D., Scripps Institution of Oceanography

Curriculum Vitae (last updated, summer 2022)

Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences
Linde Center 224

(626) 395-8345
andrewt@caltech.edu

Mar Flexas

Senior Research Scientist
Ph.D., Universitat Politécnica de Catalunya

Linde Center 205
(626) 395-8675
marf@caltech.edu

I am a sea-going oceanographer with experience in the Antarctic and Mediterranean Seas. I use in-situ data from autonomous vehicles (seagliders), Southern Elephant seals, and more traditional instruments (research-vessel profilers and instrumented moorings) to study ocean dynamics. I am particularly interested in shelf-slope dynamics and their role in deep-ocean ventilation –-their impact on climate and on biogeochemistry processes. These processes range from meso- to submesoscales, involve surface (air-sea interactions) and bottom boundary layer dynamics, and include interactions of the flow with bottom topography. Inspired by open questions that emerge from in situ observations, I use numerical models (from realistic ocean-state-estimate analysis to process-focused modelling studies) to unveil the underlying physics that lead to those observations.

Emily Newsom

Senior Research Scientist
Ph.D., University of Washington

Linde Center 205
(626) 395-8675
enewsom@caltech.edu

Sam Brenner

Postdoctoral Scholar in Environmental Science and Engineering
Ph.D., University of Washington

Linde 205
(626) 395-8675
sbrenner@caltech.edu

Madeleine Youngs

Postdoctoral Scholar in Environmental Science & Engineering (Caltech) and Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences (UCLA)
Ph.D. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Linde 205
myoungs@atmos.ucla.edu

I study large-scale geophysical fluid dynamics of the ocean and climate with a focus on both fundamental and applied problems and an overarching goal to address the question: How do atmospheric and oceanic dynamics influence global climate change? My PhD thesis focused on the dynamics of the Southern Ocean under a changing climate. As a postdoc, I have expanded my interest to dynamical systems techniques for geophysical systems and applied these to the atmosphere, specifically considering how oceanic and atmospheric storm tracks, regions of enhanced large-scale turbulence, respond to and feed back on Earth's climate. In the future, I will combine the relevant physics questions with new methods and tools to improve our understanding of climate. My current project investigates ice-shelf melt feedbacks on Southern Ocean circulation in a warming climate.

Dave Bonan

Postdoctoral researcher in Environmental Science and Engineering
Ph.D., California Institute of Technology
NSF Graduate Research Fellow
Linde Center 226
dbonan@caltech.edu

I am broadly interested in the role of the oceans in the climate system and how the circulation of the ocean will respond to and modulate climate change. My research uses a variety of models ranging from simple, conceptual models to comprehensive climate models. I am also interested in the role of sea ice in the climate system and coupled variability of the ocean-atmosphere system.

Yue (Luna) Bai

Graduate Student in Environmental Science and Engineering
NASA FINESST Graduate Research Fellow
Linde 218
ybbai@caltech.edu

Ruth Moorman

Graduate Student in Environmental Science and Engineering
John Monash Scholar
Linde Center 226
rmoorman@caltech.edu

I’m interested in the dynamics of the Southern Ocean and Antarctica’s marginal seas with an eye towards projecting future trends in Antarctic Ice Sheet mass loss. I study these remote oceans using a combination of observations, conceptual models, and detailed General Circulation Models.

Scott Conn

Graduate Student in Environmental Science and Engineering
NASA FINESST Graduate Research Fellow
Linde Center 218
sconn@caltech.edu

I'm interested in the ocean's large scale overturning circulation. Using idealised models, I study transient changes in the structure of the overturning and how these changes both influence and are influenced by the broader climate. I am also interested in the interaction between internal waves and ocean turbulence at meso- and submesoscales. I use observations and theory to better understand how waves affect the evolution of ocean turbulence and tracer transport in the ocean.

Olivia Alcabes

Graduate Student in Environmental Science and Engineering
Linde Center 222
oalcabes@caltech.edu

Julian Schmitt

Graduate Student in Environmental Science and Engineering
NSF Graduate Research Fellow
Linde Center 222
jschmitt@caltech.edu

Sarah Zhang

Graduate Student in Environmental Science and Engineering
Linde Center 222
szhang6@caltech.edu