David W. J. Thompson
Professor
Dept. of Atmospheric Science, CSU
- Phone: 970-491-3338
- Fax: 970-491-8449
- Email: davet (at) atmos.colostate.edu
- Annular Modes Website
- CV
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Education
- Ph.D. in Atmospheric Science - 2000 - University of Washington - Seattle, WA
- M.S. in Atmospheric Science - 1998 - University of Washington - Seattle, WA
- B.S. in Aerospace Engineering - 1994 - University of Colorado - Boulder, CO
Research Interests
My current research focuses on improving our understanding of global climate variability using observational data. My interests include large-scale atmospheric dynamics, the interpretation of observed climate change, stratosphere/troposphere coupling, ocean/atmosphere interaction, decadal climate variability, and the climate impacts of large-scale atmospheric phenomena. My publications are all available in PDF format below. Please also visit the Arctic Oscillation/Annular Modes web site.
Classes Taught
- AT350 - Weather and Climate
- AT606 - Introduction to Climate
- AT655 - Objective Analysis in the Atmospheric Sciences
- AT750 - Analysis and Diagnosis of Climate Variability
Current students/postdocs
- Eliott Foust (M.S.)
- Jonathan Woodworth (M.S.)
- Albert Osso (visiting PhD student from the Univ of Barcelona)
- Ying Li (Postdoctoral Researcher)
Previous students
- Kate Mullin (M.S. - currently at a wind power company, Minneapolis, Mn)
- Kevin Grise (M.S., Ph.D. 2011 - currently at McGill Univ., Montreal, CA)
- Amy Butler (M.S., Ph.D. 2010 - currently at NOAA CPC, Washington DC)
- Laura Ciasto (M.S., Ph.D. 2009 - currently at UNSW, Sydney, Au. )
- Katie Argo (M.S. 2009)
- Jason Furtado (M.S. 2005 - currently in PhD program at Ga. Tech.)
- Michelle L'Heureux (M.S. 2004 - currently at NOAA CPC, Washington DC)
- Anthony Worsham (M.S. 2002 - currently a physician)
Papers in Review/Press
- Thompson, D. W. J., and T. Birner, 2012: On the linkages between the tropospheric isentropic slope and eddy fluxes of heat during Northern Hemisphere winter J. Atmos. Sci., in press.
Download Manuscript - Simpkins, G. R., L. M. Ciasto, D. W. J. Thompson and M. H. England, 2012: Seasonal Relationships Between Large-Scale Climate Variability and Antarctic Sea Ice Concentration. J. Climate., revised.
Download Manuscript - Grise, K. M., and D. W. J. Thompson, 2012: Equatorial Planetary Waves and Their Signature in Atmospheric Variability. J. Atmos. Sci., in press.
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Publications in Print
2011:
- Thompson, D.W.J., S. Solomon, P.J. Kushner, M.H. England, K.M. Grise and D.J. Karoly, 2011: Signatures of the Antarctic ozone hole in Southern Hemisphere surface climate change. Nature Geoscience. doi:10.1038/ngeo1296.
Download Manuscript - Butler, A. H., D. W. J. Thompson, and T. Birner, 2011: Isentropic slopes, down-gradient eddy fluxes, and the extratropical atmospheric circulation response to tropical tropospheric heating. J. Atmos. Sci., 68, 2292-2305.
Download Manuscript - Verlinden, K.L., D.W.J. Thompson, and G.L. Stephens, 2011: The three-dimensional distribution of clouds over the Southern Hemisphere high latitudes. J. Climate, in press.
Download Manuscript - Kidston, J., A.S. Taschetto, D.W.J. Thompson, M.H. England, 2011: The Influence of Southern Hemisphere Sea Ice Extent on the Latitude of the Mid-Latitude Jet Stream. Geophys. Res. Lett., 38, L15804, doi:10.1029/2011GL048056.
Download Manuscript - Roff, G., D.W.J. Thompson, and H. Hendon, 2011: Does Increasing Model Stratospheric Resolution Improve Extended-Range Forecast Skill? Geophys. Res. Letts., 38, L05809, doi:10.1029/ 2010GL046515
Download Manuscript - Forster, P.M., and D.W.J. Thompson (Coordinating Lead Authors), M.P. Baldwin, M.P. Chipperfield, M. Dam- eris, J.D. Haigh, D.J. Karoly, P.J. Kushner, W.J. Randel, K.H. Rosenlof, D.J. Seidel, S. Solomon, G. Beig, P. Braesicke, N. Butchart, N.P. Gillett, K.M. Grise, D.R. Marsh, C. McLandress, T.N. Rao, S.-W. Son, G.L. Stenchikov, and S. Yoden, Stratospheric changes and climate, Chapter 4 in Scientific Assessment of Ozone Depletion: 2010, Global Ozone Research and Monitoring Project. Report No. 52, 516 pp., World Meteorological Organization, Geneva, Switzerland, 2011.
Download PDF - Young, P. J., S. Solomon, D. W. J. Thompson, K. H. Rosenlof, and J. -F. Lamarque, 2011: The seasonal cycle and interannual variability in stratospheric temperatures and links to the Brewer-Dobson circulation: An analysis of MSU and SSU data, 1979-2005. J. Climate, in press.
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2010:
- Thompson, D.W.J., J.M. Wallace, J.J. Kennedy, and P.D. Jones, 2010: An abrupt drop in Northern Hemisphere sea surface temperature around 1970. Nature, 467 444-447 doi:10.1038/nature09394.
Download Manuscript - Fyfe, J.C., N.P. Gillett, and D.W.J. Thompson, 2010: Comparing variability and trends in observed and modelled global-mean surface temperature. GRL, 37, L16802, doi:10.1029/2010GL044255.
Download Manuscript - Butler, A.H., D.W.J. Thompson, and R. Heikes, 2010: The Steady-State Atmospheric Circulation Response to Climate Change-Like Thermal Forcings in a Simple General Circulation Model. J. Climate, 23, 3474-3496.
Download Manuscript - Grise, K.M., D.W.J. Thompson, and T. Birner, 2010: A Global Survey of Static Stability in the Stratosphere and Upper Troposphere. J. Climate, 23, 2275-2292.
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2009:
- Thompson, D.W.J, J.M. Wallace, P.D. Jones, and J.J. Kennedy, 2009: Identifying signatures of natural climate variability in time series of global-mean surface temperature: Methodology and Insights. J. Climate, 22, 6120-6141.
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Link to Data - Baldwin, M.P., and Thompson, D.W.J, 2009: A critical comparison of stratosphere-troposphere coupling indices. Quart. J. Roy. Met. Soc., 135, 1661-1672.
Download Manuscript - Ciasto, L.M., and D.W.J. Thompson, 2009: Observational Evidence of Reemergence in the Extratropical Southern Hemisphere. J. Climate, 22, 1446-1453, doi:10.1175/2008JCLI2545.1.
Download Manuscript - Grise, K.M., D.W.J. Thompson, and P.M. Forster, 2009: On the Role of Radiative Processes in Stratosphere-Troposphere Coupling. J. Climate, 22, 4154, doi:10.1175/2009JCLI2756.1.
Download Manuscript - Thompson, D.W.J., and S. Solomon, 2009: Understanding Recent Stratospheric Climate Change.J. Climate, 22, 1934-1943.
Download Manuscript - Randel, W.J. et al., 2009: An update of observed stratospheric temperature trends.J. Geophys. Res., 114, D02107, doi:10.1029/2008JD010421.
Download Manuscript - Austin, J. et al., 2009: Coupled chemistry climate model simulations of stratospheric temperatures and their trends for the recent past. Geophys. Res. Lett., 36, L13809, doi:10.1029/2009GL038462.
2008:
- Thompson, D.W.J., J.J. Kennedy, J.M. Wallace, and P.D. Jones, 2008: A large discontinuity in the mid-twentieth century in observed global-mean surface temperature. Nature, 453(29), doi:10.1038/nature06982.
Download Manuscript - Ciasto, L.M., and D.W.J. Thompson, 2008: Observations of large-scale ocean-atmosphere interaction in the Southern Hemisphere. J. Climate, 21(6), 1244-1259.
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2007:
- Keeley, S.P.E., N.P. Gillett, D.W.J. Thompson, S. Solomon, and P.M. Forster, 2007: Is Antarctic climate most sensitive to ozone depletion in the middle or lower stratosphere?Geophys. Res. Lett., 34, L22812, doi:10.1029/2007GL031238.
Download Manuscript (PDF) - Forster, P.M., G. Bodeker, R. Schofield, S. Solomon, and D.W.J. Thompson, 2007: Effects of ozone cooling in the tropical lower stratosphere and upper troposphere.Geophys. Res. Lett., 34, L23813, doi:10.1029/2007GL031994.
Download Manuscript (PDF) - Butler, A.H., D.W.J. Thompson, and K.R. Gurney, 2007: Observed Relationships between the Southern Annular Mode and Atmpospheric Carbon Dioxide.Glob. Bio. Cycles, 21, GB4014, doi:10.1029/2006GB002796.
Download Manuscript (PDF) - Hendon, H.H., D.W.J. Thompson, and M.C. Wheeler, 2007: Australian rainfall and surface temperature variations associated with the Southern Hemisphere annular mode.J. Climate, 20(11), 2452-2467.
Download Manuscript - Solomon, S., R.W. Portman, and D.W.J. Thompson, 2007: Contrasts between Antarctic and Arctic Ozone Depletion. Proc. Nat. Academy of Sciences, 104, 445-449.
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2006:
- Solomon, S., R.W. Portmann, T. Sasaki, D.J. Hofman, and D.W.J. Thompson, 2006: Four decades of ozonesone measurements over Antarctica.J. Geophys. Res., 110, D21311, doi:10.1029/2005JD005917.
Download Manuscript (PDF) - Thompson, D.W.J., J.C. Furtado, and T.G. Shepherd, 2006: On the Tropospheric Response to Anomalous Stratospheric Wave Drag and Radiative Heating.J. Atmos. Sci., 63(10), 2616-2629.
Download Manuscript (PDF) - L'Heureux, M.L., and D.W.J. Thompson, 2006: Observed relationships between the El-Nino/Southern Oscillation and the extratropical zonal-mean circulation.J. Climate,19, 276-287.
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2005:
- Limpasuvan, V., D.L. Hartman, D.W.J. Thompson, K. Jeev, and Y.L. Young, 2005: Stratosphere-troposphere evolution during polar vortex intensification.J. Geophys. Res., 110, D24101, doi:10.1029/2005JD006302.
Download Manuscript (PDF) - Thompson, D.W.J., M.P. Baldwin, and S. Solomon, 2005: Stratosphere-troposphere coupling in the Southern Hemisphere.J. Atmos. Sci., 62(3), 708-715.
Download Manuscript (PDF) - Hall, A., A. Clement, D.W.J. Thompson, A. Broccoli, and C. Jackson, 2005: The importance of atmospheric dynamics in Northern Hemisphere wintertime climate response to changes in the Earth's orbit.J. Climate, 18, 1315-1325.
Download Manuscript (PDF) - Limpasuvan, V., D.W.J. Thompson, and D.L. Hartman, 2005: Reply.J. Climate, 18, 2778-2780.
Download Manuscript (PDF) - Thompson, D.W.J., and S. Solomon, 2005: Recent stratospheric climate trends as evidenced in radiosonde data: Global structure and tropospheric linkages.J. Climate, 18, 4785-4795.
Download Manuscript (PDF) - Solomon, S., D.W.J. Thompson, R.W. Portmann, S.J. Oltmans, and A.M. Thompson, 2005: On the distribution and variability of ozone in the tropical upper troposphere: Implications for tropical deep convection and chemical-dynamical coupling.Geophys. Res. Lett., 32, L23813, 10.1029/2005GL024323.
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2004:
- Limpasuvan, V., D.W.J. Thompson, and D.L. Hartmann, 2004: On the Life Cycle of sudden stratospheric warmings.J. Climate, 17(13), 2584-2596.
Download Manuscript (PDF) - Thompson, D.W.J., and D.J. Lorenz, 2004: The signature of the annular modes in the tropical troposphere.J. Climate, 17(22), 4330-4342.
Download Manuscript (PDF) - Ciasto, L., D.W.J. Thompson, 2004: North Atlantic atmosphere ocean interaction on intraseasonal timescales.J. Climate, 17(8), 1617-1621.
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2003:
- Baldwin, M.P., D.B. Stephenson, D. W. J. Thompson, T. J. Dunkerton, A. J. Charlton, and A. O'Neill, 2003: Stratospheric memory and skill of extended-range weather forecasts.Science, 301, 636-640.
Download Manuscript (PDF) - Gillett, N., and D.W.J. Thompson, 2003: Simulation of recent Southern Hemisphere climate change.Science, 302, 273-275
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2002:
- Wallace, J.M. and D.W.J. Thompson, 2002: The Pacific Center of Action of the Northern Hemisphere Annular Mode: Real or Artifact?J. Climate, 15, 1987-1991.
Download Manuscript (PDF) - Thompson, D.W.J., M.P. Baldwin, and J. M. Wallace, 2002: Stratospheric connection to Northern Hemisphere wintertime weather: Implications for prediction.J. Climate, 15, 1421-1428.
Download Manuscript (PDF) - Thompson, D.W.J., and S. Solomon, 2002: Interpretation of recent Southern Hemisphere climate change.Science, 296, 895-899.
Download Manuscript (PDF) - Thompson, D.W.J., S. Lee, and M.P. Baldwin, 2002: Atmospheric Processes Governing the Northern Hemisphere Annular Mode/North Atlantic Oscillation. From the AGU monograph on the North Atlantic Oscillation, 293, 85-89.
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2001:
- Wallace, J.M., and D.W.J. Thompson, 2001: Annular Modes and Climate Prediction.Physics Today, 55, 28-33.
Download Manuscript (PDF) - Thompson, D.W.J., and J.M. Wallace, 2001: Regional Climate Impacts of the Northern Hemisphere Annular Mode.Science, 293, 85-89.
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2000:
- Thompson, D.W.J., and J.M. Wallace, 2000: Annular modes in the extratropical circulation. Part I: Month-to-month variability.J. Climate, 13, 1000-1016.
Download Manuscript (PDF) - Thompson, D.W.J.,J.M. Wallace, and G. C. Hegerl, 2000: Annular modes in the extratropical circulation: Part II: Trends.J. Climate, 13, 1018-1036.
Download Manuscript (PDF) - Hartmann, D.L., J.M. Wallace, V. Limpasuvan, D.W.J. Thompson, and J.R. Holton, 2000: Can Ozone Depletion and Greenhouse Warming Interact to Produce Rapid Climate Change?Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci., 97, 1412-1417.
Download Manuscript (PDF) - Wallace, J.M., D.W.J. Thompson, and Z. Fang, 2000: Comments on "Northern Hemisphere teleconnection patterns during extreme phases of the zonal-mean circulation.J. Climate, 13, 1037-1039.
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1998:
- Thompson, D.W.J., and J.M. Wallace, 1998: The Arctic Oscillation signature in the wintertime geopotential height and temperature fields.Geophys. Res. Lett., 25, 1297-1300.
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