Education

Ph.D., Oceanography, University of British Columbia

Research interests

My interests are broadly focused on the spatial and temporal patterns of plankton in the oceans. How much? When? Where? and Why? I have a special interest in plankton interactions with the physical environment; links to current structure, water mass shifts, seasonal cycles, wind forcing, etc. At present, my attention is divided approximately equally between two geographic regions 1) the Gulf of Maine, a region of strong tidal forcing with a large annual signal, surprising spatial heterogeneity and still poorly understood interannual variability, and 2) global Eastern Boundary Currents, some of the most biologically productive regions on the planet with strong wind forcing, upwelling and large interannual variability (ENSO, PDO etc). The large time and space scales important in quantifying variability have led me to an extensive use of satellite data. The tools of my trade are many fast computers, big monitors, huge on-line disk storage space, computer graphics, data bases, GIS and remote sensing software. In my lab we primarily use NOAA AVHRR and ocean color imagery (SeaWIFS and MODIS data), but also use scatterometer data, synthetic aperture radar imagery, and dabble in altimeter, LANDSAT data and airborne multispectral imagery. My research is inherently multidisciplinary. I interact with biological and physical oceanographers, fisheries oceanographers, numerical modelers, digital image specialists and marine resource managers.

Publications

• Legaard, K. and A.C. Thomas. 2007. Spatial patterns of intraseasonal variability of chlorophyll and sea surface temperature in the California Current. J. Geophys. Res., In Press.
• Crawford, W.R., P.J. Brickley, and A.C. Thomas, 2007. Eddy Transport into a Cyclonic Gyre: An Example in the Gulf of Alaska, Prog. in Oceanogr. In Press.
• Venegas, R., P.T. Strub, E. Beier, R. Letelier, A.C. Thomas, T.Cowles, C. James, L. Soto-Mardones, C. Cabrera. 2007. Satellite-derived variability in chlorophyll, wind stress, sea surface height, and temperature in the northern California Current System. J. Geophys. Res., In Press.
• Henson, S.A. and A.C. Thomas. 2007. Interannual variability in timing of seasonal chlorophyll increases in the California Current. J. Geophys. Res., In Press.
• Henson, S.A. and A.C. Thomas. 2007. Phytoplankton scales of variability in the California Current system: Interannual and cross-shelf variability. J. Geophys. Res., 112, C07017, doi:10.1029/ 2006JC004039
• Henson, S.A. and A.C. Thomas. 2007. Phytoplankton scales of variability in the California Current system: Latitudinal variability J. Geophys. Res., 112, C07018, doi:10.1029/ 2006JC004040.
• Theil, M. et al. 2007. The Humboldt Current system of northern-central Chile: Oceanographic processes, ecological interactions and socioeconomic feedback. Oceanogr. Mar. Biol. Ann Rev. 45: 195-345.
• Thomas, A.C. and P. Brickley. 2006. Satellite measurements of chlorophyll distribution during spring 2005 in the California Current. Geophys. Res. Lett. 33, doi:10.1029/2006GL026588.
• Legaard, K. and A.C. Thomas. 2006. Spatial patterns of seasonal and interannual variability in chlorophyll and surface temperature in the California Current. J. Geophys. Res. 111, C06032, doi:10.1029/2005JC003282.
• Whitehouse, B.G., P.W. Vachon, A.C. Thomas, R.J. Quinn and W.M. Renaud, 2006, Rapid environmental assessment (REA) of the maritime battlespace, Canadian Military J., 7(1): 66-69.
• Thomas, A.C. and R. Weatherbee. 2006. Satellite-measured temporal variability of the Columbia River plume. Rem. Sensing. Env. 100: 167-178.
• Dagg, M.J., H. Liu and A.C. Thomas. 2006. Effects of mesoscale phytoplankton variability on the copepods Neocalanus flemingeri and N. plumchrus in the coastal Gulf of Alaska. Deep-Sea Res. 53: 321-332.
• Deep Sea Research
  Luerssen R.M., A.C. Thomas and J. Hurst, 2005. Relationships between satellite-measured thermal features and Alexandrium-imposed toxicity in the Gulf of Maine, Accepted, Deep Sea Res. Part 2.
• Deep-Sea Research
  Crawford, W.R., P.J. Brickley, T.D. Peterson, and A.C. Thomas, 2005. Impact of Haida Eddies on chlorophyll-a distribution in the eastern Gulf of Alaska, In Press, Deep-Sea Res..
• The Sea
  Mackas, D., P.T. Strub, A.C. Thomas, V. Montecino, 2005, Eastern Ocean Boundaries Pan-Regional View, In: The Sea. A.R. Robinson and K.H. Brink, Editors. Harvard Press Ltd.. Submitted.
• The Sea
  D.W. Townsend, A.C. Thomas, L.M. Mayer, M.A.Thomas and J.A. Quinlan, 2005, Interdisciplinary oceanography of the northwest Atlantic continental shelf waters. In: The Sea. A.R. Robinson and K.H. Brink, Editors. Harvard Press Ltd.. Submitted.
• The Sea
  Montecino, V., P.T. Strub, J. Tarazona, F. Chavez, A.C. Thomas and T. Baumgartner. 2005, Bio-physical interactions off western South America, In: The Sea. A.R. Robinson and K.H. Brink, Editors. Harvard Press Ltd.. Submitted.
• Pettigrew, N.R., J.H. Churchill, C.D. Janzen, L.J. Mangum, R.P. Signell, A.C. Thomas, D.W. Townsend, J.P. Wallinga, and H. Xue, 2005, The kinematic and hydrographic structure of the Gulf of Maine Coastal Current. Deep Sea Res. Part2, 52: 2369-2391.
• Journal of Rem. Sens
  Thomas A.C., P. Ted Strub, M.E. Carr and R. Weatherbee, 2004. Comparisons of chlorophyll variability between the four major global eastern boundary currents. Int. J. Rem. Sens., 25:1443-1447.
• Deep-Sea Research
  Brickley P., and A.C. Thomas, 2003, Satellite-measured seasonal and interannual chlorophyll variability in the Northeast pacific and coastal Gulf of Alaska. Deep-Sea Res. 51: 229-245.
• Deep Sea Research
  Siegel, D. A., A.C. Thomas and J. Marra, 2004, Views of ocean processes from the Sea-viewing Wide Field of View Sensor (SeaWiFS) Mission: Introduction to the second special issue. Deep-Sea Res. 51: 911-912.
• Deep Sea Research
  Siegel, D. A., A.C. Thomas and J. Marra, 2004, Views of ocean processes from the Sea-viewing Wide Field of View Sensor Mission: Introduction to the first special issue. Deep-Sea Res. 51: 1-3.
• Continental Shelf Research
  Thomas A.C., D.W. Townsend and R. Weatherbee, 2003, Satellite-measured phytoplankton variability in the Gulf of Maine. In press, Cont. Shelf Res.
• Geophysical Res. Letters
  Thomas A.C., P. T. Strub and P. Brickley, 2003, Anomalous chlorophyll concentrations in the California Current in 2001-2002. Geophys. Res. Lett. 30(15): 8022, doi:10.1029/2003GL017409.
• Journal of Geophysical Research
  Blanco J.L., M-E. Carr, A.C. Thomas and P.T. Strub, 2002, Hydrographic conditions off northern Chile during the 1996-1998 La Nina and El Nino, J. Geophys. Res. 107: 3236.
• Journal of Geophysical Research
  Carr M-E., P.T. Strub, A.C. Thomas and J.L. Blanco, 2002, Evolution of 1996-1999 La Nina and El Nino conditions off the western coast of South America: a remote sensing perspective, J. Geophys. Res. 107: 3236.
• Journal of Geophysical Research
  Blanco J.L., M-E. Carr, A.C. Thomas and P.T. Strub, 2002, Hydrographic conditions off northern Chile during the 1996-1998 La Nina and El Nino, J. Geophys. Res. 107: 10,1029.
• Remote Sensing and the Environment
  Thomas A.C., D. Byrne and R. Weatherbee, 2002, Coastal sea surface temperature variability from LANDSAT infrared data. Rem. Sens. Env. 81:262-272.
• Journal of Geophysical Research
  Thomas A.C., J.L. Blanco, M.E. Carr, P.T. Strub and J. Ossus, 2001, Satellite-measured chlorophyll and temperature variability off northern Chile during the 1996-1998 La Nina and El Nino, J. Geophys. Res. 106:899-915.
• Journal of Geophysical Research
  Blanco J.L., A.C. Thomas, M-E. Carr and P.T. Strub, 2001, Seasonal climatology of hydrographic conditions in the upwelling region off northern Chile, J. Geophys. Res. 106:11,451-11,467.
• Continental Shelf Research
  Thomas A.C. and P.T. Strub, 2001, Cross-shelf phytoplankton pigment variability in the California Current. Cont. Shelf Res. 21: 1157-1190.
• Deep-Sea Research
  Townsend D.W. and A.C. Thomas, 2001, Winter-spring transition of phytoplankton chlorophyll and inorganic nutrients on Georges Bank, Deep Sea Res. II, 48:199-214.
• Geophysical Research Letters
  Thomas A.C., M.E. Carr and P. T. Strub, 2001, Chlorophyll variability in eastern boundary currents, Geophys. Res. Lett. 28: 3421-3424. Cover Article.
• Deep-Sea Research
  Nixon, S.W. and A.C. Thomas, 2001, On the size of the Peru upwelling ecosystem. Deep Sea Res. I, 48:2521-2528.
• Journal of Geophysical Research
  Thomas A.C., J.L. Blanco, M.E. Carr, P.T. Strub and J. Ossus, 2001, Satellite-measured chlorophyll and temperature variability off northern Chile during the 1996-1998 La Nina and El Nino, J. Geophys. Res. 106:899-915.
• Journal of Geophysical Research
  Thomas, A.C. 1999. Seasonal distributions of satellite-measured phytoplankton pigment concentration along the Chilean coast. J. Geophys. Res. 104:25877-25890.
• The Sea. A.R. Robinson and K.H. Brink
  Hill, A.E., B.M.Hickey, F.A.Shillington, P.T.Strub, K.H. Brink, E.D.Barton, A.C. Thomas, 1998. Eastern Boundary Currents: A Pan-Regional Review. Chapter 2 In: The Sea. A.R. Robinson and K.H. Brink, Editors. J.Wiley and Sons Inc.
• Earth Ocean and Space Pty. Ltd
  Thomas, A.C. and P.T. Strub. 1998. Large-scale temporal and spatial variability of phytoplankton pigment concentrations in the California Current. Pg 255-266 In: Remote Sensing of the Pacific Ocean by Satellites. R.A. Brown, Ed., Earth Ocean and Space Pty. Ltd.
• The Sea
  Hill, A.E., B.M.Hickey, F.A.Shillington, P.T.Strub, K.H. Brink, E.D.Barton, A.C. Thomas, 1998. Eastern Boundary Currents: A Pan-Regional Review. In: The Sea. A.R. Robinson and K.H. Brink, Editors. J.Wiley and Sons Inc.
• Remote Sensing of the Pacific Ocean
  Thomas, A.C. and P.T. Strub. 1998. Large-scale temporal and spatial variability of phytoplankton pigment concentrations in the California Current. Pg 255-266 In: Remote Sensing of the Pacific Ocean by Satellites. R.A. Brown, Ed., Earth Ocean and Space Pty. Ltd.
• Atlantic Salmon Trust
  Thomas, A.C., B. Whitehouse and S. Levesque. 1996. Spatial and Temporal Variability of North Atlantic Salmon Habitat: Estimates from Satellite Measured Sea Surface Temperature. Professional Technical Report for the Atlantic Salmon Federation and the Atlantic Salmon Trust.
• World Meteorological Organization
  Thomas, A.C., P.T. Strub and S. Levesque. 1994. Satellite measured ocean colour variability at large spatial and temporal scales. Pg 240-248 In: Proceedings of WMO/IOC Technical Conference on Space-based Ocean Observations, Bergen, Norway, World Meteorological Organization, UNESCO.
• Journal of Geophysical Research
  Thomas, A.C., P.T. Strub, F. Huang and C. James. 1994. A comparison of the seasonal and interannual variability of phytoplankton pigment concentrations in the Peru and California Current System. J. Geophys. Res. 99:7355-7370.
• UNESCO
  Thomas, A.C., P.T. Strub and S. Levesque. 1994. Satellite measured ocean colour variability at large spatial and temporal scales. Pg 240-248 In: Proceedings of WMO/IOC Technical Conference on Space-based Ocean Observations, Bergen, Norway, World Meteorological Organization, UNESCO.
• Continental Shelf Research
  Thomas, A.C. 1992. Associations between zooplankton community structure and satellite measured surface thermal patterns in a continental shelf region. Cont. Shelf Res. 12:753-777.
• Canadian Journal of Fisheries Aquatics Science
  Hobbs, R.C., L.W. Botsford and A.C. Thomas. 1992. Influence of hydrographic conditions and hind forcing on the distribution and abundance of Dungeness crab, Cancer magister, Larvae. Can. J. Fish. Aquat. Sci., 49:1379-1388.
• Journal of Geophysical Research
  Thomas, A.C. and P.T. Strub. 1990. Seasonal and interannual variability of pigment concentrations across a California Current frontal zone. J. Geophys. Res. 95:13023-13042.
• J. Geophysical Research
  Strub, P.T., C. James, A.C. Thomas, and M.R. Abbott. 1990. Seasonal and non-seasonal variability of satellite derived surface pigment concentration in the California Current. J. Geophys. Res. 95:11501-11530.
• 1989Journal of Geophysical Research
  Thomas, A.C. and P.T. Strub. 1989. Interannual variability in phytoplankton pigment distribution during the spring transition off western North America. J. Geophys. Res. 94:18095-18117.
• 1988 Journal of Geophysical Research
  Thomas, A.C. and W.J. Emery. 1988. Relationships between near-surface plankton concentrations, hydrography and satellite measured sea surface temperature. J. Geophys. Res. 93:15733-15748.
• 1986 Canadian Journal of Fisheries Aquatics Science
  Thomas, A.C. and W.J. Emery. 1986. Winter hydrography and plankton distributions on the southern British Columbia continental shelf. Can. J. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 43:1249-1258.
• 1986 Journal of Geophysical Research
  Emery, W.J., A.C. Thomas, M. Collins, W.J. Crawford and D.L. Mackas. 1986. An objective method for computing advective surface velocities from sequential infrared satellite images. J. Geophys. Res. 91:12865-12878.
• Journal of Plankton Research
  Lewis, A.G. and A.C. Thomas. 1986. Tidal transport of zooplankton across the sill of a British Columbia fjord. J. Plankton Res. 8:1079-1089.
• The Oceanography Report
  Emery, W.J., A.C. Thomas, M.J. Collins, W.R. Crawford, and D.L. Mackas. 1986. Comparison between satellite image advective velocities, dynamic topography, and surface drifter trajectories. The Oceanography Report, EOS 67(22).

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