Richard Mansergh Thorne (July 25, 1942 – July 12, 2019) was an American physicist and a distinguished professor in the department of atmospheric and oceanic sciences at UCLA. He was known for his contributions to space plasma physics. He was a fellow of the American Geophysical Union.

Thorne graduated from Birmingham University in 1963 with a BS in mathematical physics.[1] In 1968 he received a PhD in physics from MIT. The astronomer Alar Toomre was his advisor; his thesis was titled On the distribution of interstellar gas in the galaxy.[2]

In 1968 Thorne joined the department of meteorology at UCLA (now the department of atmospheric and oceanic sciences). In 2000 he was appointed distinguished professor[1] and elected a fellow of the American Geophysical Union.[3] He retired in 2015.[1]

Selected publications

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References

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  1. ^ a b c Gilbert, C. (July 15, 2019). "Richard Thorne obituary". American Geophysical Union SPA Section Newsletter. XXVI (43).
  2. ^ Thorne, Richard (1968). On the distribution of interstellar gas in the galaxy (Thesis). Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
  3. ^ "Richard M Thorne". American Geophysical Union. Retrieved 21 July 2019.
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