Dr. Thomson studies waves and turbulence at the ocean surface, including interactions with sea ice. His work emphasizes field measurements and physical processes and includes the development of instrumentation and autonomous platforms like the MicroSWIFT Buoy Tracker. This buoy provides real-time data on wave conditions, sea surface temperature, and buoy location. These small, GPS-
equipped wave buoys are deployed as part of the 2025 Around the Americas expedition to help scientists monitor dynamic coastal and open ocean environments.
The Around the Americas Expedition is a 14-month voyage, that just launched in May. They will circumnavigate North and South America aboard the 48-foot sailboat, One Ocean. The mission focuses on scientific research, education, and community outreach to raise awareness about ocean health. Building on Captain Mark Schrader’s original 2009–2010 journey, the expedition will compare oceanic changes over the past 15 years.
