2026 Jim Thomson: Earth Science Researcher – H-Index, Publications & Awards

Discipline name	D-Index	World Ranking	Current World Ranking	National Ranking	Current National Ranking	Publications	Citations
Earth Science	43	5086	4700	1901	1692	191	5674

Research.com Recognitions

1962 - Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)

Overview

Jim Thomson is a researcher affiliated with the University of Washington in the United States. Their work primarily focuses on Earth and Planetary Sciences, with particular specialization in Oceanography, Atmospheric Science, and Earth-Surface Processes. They have contributed extensively to studies in global and planetary change and environmental chemistry within this broader scientific framework.

The scientist's research topics include:

Ocean Waves and Remote Sensing
Oceanographic and Atmospheric Processes
Arctic and Antarctic Ice Dynamics
Coastal and Marine Dynamics
Tropical and Extratropical Cyclones Research
Underwater Acoustics Research
Cryospheric Studies and Observations

Jim Thomson has published numerous papers across multiple respected scientific journals. Frequent publication venues include:

Journal of Geophysical Research Oceans
Geophysical Research Letters
Journal of Physical Oceanography
Journal of Atmospheric and Oceanic Technology
Earth System Science Data

Recently published papers demonstrate the scope of their research interests and collaborations. Selected recent works are:

"Frazil ice growth and production during katabatic wind events in the Ross Sea, Antarctica," 2020, The Cryosphere
"Measurements from the RV Ronald H. Brown and related platforms as part of the Atlantic Tradewind Ocean-Atmosphere Mesoscale Interaction Campaign (ATOMIC)," 2021, Earth System Science Data
"Comparing Observations and Parameterizations of Ice-Ocean Drag Through an Annual Cycle Across the Beaufort Sea," 2021, Journal of Geophysical Research Oceans
"Spurious Rollover of Wave Attenuation Rates in Sea Ice Caused by Noise in Field Measurements," 2021, Journal of Geophysical Research Oceans
"Landfast Ice and Coastal Wave Exposure in Northern Alaska," 2021, Geophysical Research Letters

Throughout their career, Jim Thomson has worked with several frequent coauthors, reflecting collaborative efforts in their field. These include:

Luc Rainville
Samuel Brenner
Madison M. Smith
Elizabeth Thompson
Melissa Moulton

In 1962, Jim Thomson was recognized as a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS).

Best Publications

Swell and sea in the emerging Arctic Ocean

Jim Thomson;W. Erick Rogers

377
Citations
Measurements of Turbulence at Two Tidal Energy Sites in Puget Sound, WA

J. Thomson;B. Polagye;V. Durgesh;M. C. Richmond

352
Citations
Wave Breaking Dissipation Observed with “SWIFT” Drifters

Jim Thomson

231
Citations
EUREC 4 A

Bjorn Stevens;Sandrine Bony;David Farrell;Felix Ament

219
Citations
Quantifying upper ocean turbulence driven by surface waves

E. A. D'Asaro;J. Thomson;A. Y. Shcherbina;R. R. Harcourt

154
Citations
Tidal modulation of infragravity waves via nonlinear energy losses in the surfzone

James M. Thomson;Steve Elgar;Britt Raubenheimer;T. H. C. Herbers

153
Citations
Overview of the Arctic Sea State and Boundary Layer Physics Program

Jim Thomson;Stephen Ackley;Fanny Girard-Ardhuin;Fabrice Ardhuin

149
Citations
Dissipation of wind waves by pancake and frazil ice in the autumn Beaufort Sea

W. Erick Rogers;Jim Thomson;Hayley H. Shen;Martin J. Doble

129
Citations
Turbulence Measurements from Five-Beam Acoustic Doppler Current Profilers

Maricarmen Guerra;Jim Thomson

123
Citations
Emerging trends in the sea state of the Beaufort and Chukchi seas

James M. Thomson;Yalin Fan;Sharon E. Stammerjohn;Justin Stopa

110
Citations
Calibrating a Viscoelastic Sea Ice Model for Wave Propagation in the Arctic Fall Marginal Ice Zone

Sukun Cheng;W. Erick Rogers;Jim Thomson;Madison Smith

109
Citations
Tidal energy resource characterization: methodology and field study in Admiralty Inlet, Puget Sound, WA (USA):

B Polagye;J Thomson

108
Citations
Waves and the equilibrium range at Ocean Weather Station P

J. Thomson;E. A. D'Asaro;M. F. Cronin;W. E. Rogers

99
Citations
Site characterization for tidal power

Sam Gooch;Jim Thomson;Brian Polagye;Dallas Meggitt

94
Citations
Quantifying turbulence for tidal power applications

Jim Thomson;Brian Polagye;Marshall Richmond;Vibhav Durgesh

80
Citations
Constraining Southern Ocean Air-Sea-Ice Fluxes Through Enhanced Observations

Sebastiaan Swart;Sebastiaan Swart;Sarah T. Gille;Bruno Delille;Simon Josey

77
Citations
Wave-Breaking Turbulence in the Ocean Surface Layer

Jim Thomson;Michael S. Schwendeman;Seth F. Zippel;Saeed Moghimi

76
Citations
Measuring ocean waves in sea ice using SAR imagery: A quasi-deterministic approach evaluated with Sentinel-1 and in situ data

Fabrice Ardhuin;Justin Stopa;Justin Stopa;Bertrand Chapron;Fabrice Collard

71
Citations
Measurements of Directional Wave Spectra and Wind Stress from a Wave Glider Autonomous Surface Vehicle

Jim Thomson;James B. Girton;Rajesh Jha;Andrew Trapani

71
Citations
Waves and Swells in High Wind and Extreme Fetches, Measurements in the Southern Ocean

Alexander V. Babanin;W. Erick Rogers;Ricardo de Camargo;Martin Doble

62
Citations
Observations of whitecap coverage and the relation to wind stress, wave slope, and turbulent dissipation

Michael Schwendeman;Jim Thomson

62
Citations
Wave attenuation by sea ice turbulence

J. J. Voermans;A. V. Babanin;J. Thomson;M. M. Smith

54
Citations
Attenuation and Directional Spreading of Ocean Waves During a Storm Event in the Autumn Beaufort Sea Marginal Ice Zone

F. Montiel;V. A. Squire;M. Doble;J. Thomson

54
Citations
Frazil ice growth and production during katabatic wind events in the Ross Sea, Antarctica

Lisa Thompson;Lisa Thompson;Madison Smith;Jim Thomson;Sharon Stammerjohn

52
Citations
Arctic Sea Ice Drift Measured by Shipboard Marine Radar

B. Lund;H. C. Graber;P. O. G. Persson;M. Smith

51
Citations

Frequent Co-Authors

Luc Rainville University of Washington

Peter Wadhams University of Cambridge

Sharon Stammerjohn Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research

Christopher W. Fairall National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Fabrice Ardhuin French Research Institute for Exploitation of the Sea

Alexander V. Babanin University of Melbourne

Hans C. Graber University of Miami

Susanne Lehner German Aerospace Center

Benjamin Holt California Institute of Technology

Byron Blomquist University of Colorado Boulder

External Links

Personal website of Jim Thomson

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