Dr Neil Thomas

Principal lecturer in the School of Geography, Geology and the Environment, Kingston University.

Dr  Neil  Thomas Areas of expertise

Find out more about Dr Neil Thomas

Overview

Dr Neil Thomas is an expert in geophysical hazards - particularly earthquakes, tsunami and volcanoes - and disaster risk reduction.  He is a geophysicist who has published extensively on research into the Earth's magnetic field.  His main research interests now are in the fields of tsunami and volcanic hazard and risk assessment and he is currently working on collaborative projects in Australia, Italy, the Canary Islands and the Balearic islands.  During his career, he has contributed sections to books and been a reviewer for grant applications and many journal papers.  He is a co-founder of, and former senior advisor to, Higher Education's National Subject Centre for Geography, Earth & Environmental Sciences.

Dr Thomas is frequently called upon to conduct media interviews, both print and broadcast, in the aftermath of natural disasters. In 2010 and 2011 he commentated extensively on the Haiti earthquake, Tropical Cyclone Yasi in Australia, the Japanese earthquake/tsunami and the earthquakes in New Zealand.

 

 

 

 

Qualifications

Year gained Subject
1992 PhD, Geophysics, Liverpool University.
1988 BSc, Geophysical Science, Southampton.

Career Highlights

Year Position held
1997 - Principal lecturer, School of Geography, Geology and the Environment, Kingston University.
1995 - 1997 Lecturer, School of Geography, Geology and the Environment, Kingston University.
1993 - 1995 Post doc, Geography, Liverpool University.
1992 - 1993 Research Associate at the Centre for Continuing Education, Liverpool University.

Research

Garcia, Alexander S., Thomas, D. Neil, Liss, Dirk and Shaw, John (2006) Low geomagnetic field intensity during the Kiaman superchron: Thellier and microwave results from the Great Whin Sill intrusive complex, northern United Kingdom. Geophysical Research Letters, 33(16), 0-0. ISSN (print) 0094-8276

Garcia, Alexander S., Thomas, D. Neil, Liss, Dirk and Shaw, John (2006) Low geomagnetic field intensity during the Kiaman superchron: Thellier and microwave results from the Great Whin Sill intrusive complex, northern United Kingdom. Geophysical Research Letters, 33(16), L16308. ISSN (print) 0094-8276

Thomas, D. Neil, Hill, Mimi J. and Garcia, Alexander S. (2004) Comparison of the Coe-Thellier-Thellier and microwave palaeointensity techniques using high-titanium titanomagnetites: results from a Tertiary basaltic intrusion from the Sydney Basin, New South Wales. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 229(1-2), pp. 15-29. ISSN (print) 0012-821X

Thomas, D. Neil, Hill, Mimi J. and Garcia, Alexander S. (2004) Comparison of the Coe-Thellier-Thellier and microwave palaeointensity techniques using high-titanium titanomagnetites: results from a Tertiary basaltic intrusion from the Sydney Basin, New South Wales. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 229(1-2), pp. 15-29. ISSN (print) 0012-821X

Biggin, A.J. and Thomas, D.N. (2003) Analysis of long-term variations in the geomagnetic poloidal field intensity and evaluation of their relationship with global geodynamics. Geophysical Journal International, 152(2), pp. 392-415. ISSN (print) 0956-540X

Biggin, Andrew J. and Thomas, D. Neil (2003) The application of acceptance criteria to results of Thellier palaeointensity experiments performed on samples with pseudo-single-domain-like characteristics. Physics of The Earth and Planetary Interiors, 138(3-4), pp. 279-287. ISSN (print) 0031-9201

Biggin, Andrew J. and Thomas, D. Neil (2003) The application of acceptance criteria to results of Thellier palaeointensity experiments performed on samples with pseudo-single-domain-like characteristics. Physics of the Earth and Planetary Interiors, 138(3-4), pp. 279-287. ISSN (print) 0031-9201

Thomas, D.N., Biggin, A.J. and Schmidt, P.W. (2000) A palaeomagnetic study of Jurassic intrusives from southern New South Wales: further evidence for a pre-Cenozoic dipole low. Geophysical Journal International, 140(3), pp. 621-635. ISSN (print) 0956-540X

Piper, J.D.A., Thomas, D.N., Share, S. and Rui, Z.Q. (1999) The palaeomagnetism of (Mesoproterozoic) Eriksfjord Group red beds, South Greenland: Multiphase remagnetization during the Gardar and Grenville episodes. Geophysical Journal International, 136(3), pp. 739-756. ISSN (print) 0956-540X

Thomas, D.N., Rolph, T.C., Shaw, J., deSherwood, S.G. and Zhuang, Z. (1998) Palaeointensity studies of a late Permian lava succession from Guizhou Province, South China: implications for post-Kiaman dipole field behaviour. Geophysical Journal International, 134(3), pp. 856-866. ISSN (print) 0956-540X

Thomas, D.N., Rolph, T.C. and Friel, D.F. (1997) Permo-Carboniferous (Kiaman) palaeointensity results from the western Bohemian massif, Germany. Geophysical Journal International, 130(1), pp. 257-265. ISSN (print) 0956-540X

Media Highlights

Dr Thomas is an accomplished media commentator, having been asked on a number of occasions, and at short notice, to comment on natural disasters. Most recently he has appeared on BBC TV news and radio, including BBC Breakfast News, as well as Sky and ITV and varied local radio stations.

Conference Highlights

In previous years Dr Thomas was a seasoned conference presenter.

Professional Body Membership

Fellow of the Geographical Society (since 1990).

Press Office contacts

For journalists only, the Press Office can be contacted on:


Tel: +44 (0)20 8417 3034
Out of hours: 07771 977768
Email: press@kingston.ac.uk


If you are not a journalist but wish to speak to one of our academic experts, please call +44 (0)20 8417 9000.

Kingston University

Room 2, River House
Kingston upon Thames
Surrey KT1 1LQ