Eric M Thompson
Eric Thompson is a research geophysicist with the USGS in Golden. He joined the USGS in 2015 where he participates in research, development, and operations of many earthquake hazard products, including near-real-time earthquake hazard products.
Professional Experience
5/2015-Present: Research Geophysicist, USGS, Golden, Colorado.
4/2013-4/2015: Adjunct Professor, Geological Sciences, San Diego State University.
1/2014-3/2015: Lecturer, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of California, Los Angeles.
9/2010-9/2013: Research Assistant Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Tufts University.
3/2009-8/2010: Postdoctoral Researcher/Lecturer, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Tufts University.
Education and Certifications
2009 Ph.D., Tufts University, Civil and Environmental Engineering.
2002 B.S., University of California at Santa Cruz, Earth Science.
Honors and Awards
2022: Superior Service Award for activities in the planning and development of ground motion processing software named gmprocess.
2019: FEMA Certificate of Appreciation for outstanding contributions in support of national level earthquake exercise.
2018: Western States Seismic Policy Council (WSSPC) Award for Excellence Use of Technology for developing the ShakeMap Scenario Suite.
Science and Products
Filter Total Items: 25
Inventory of liquefaction features triggered by the 7 January 2020 M6.4 Puerto Rico earthquake Inventory of liquefaction features triggered by the 7 January 2020 M6.4 Puerto Rico earthquake
This dataset consists of an inventory of the locations of liquefaction-related phenomena triggered by the 7 January 2020 M6.4 Puerto Rico earthquake. The inventory is primarily based on field observations collected during post-earthquake reconnaissance conducted by the USGS and partners (Allstadt and others, 2020, Interactive Dashboard). Some additional locations were added based on...
Field reconnaissance of ground failure triggered by shaking during the 2018 M7.1 Anchorage, Alaska, earthquake Field reconnaissance of ground failure triggered by shaking during the 2018 M7.1 Anchorage, Alaska, earthquake
These data present geolocated photographs, GPS tracks, and field-mapped ground failures collected during the USGS reconnaissance of ground failures following the 2018 M7.1 Anchorage Earthquake.
Initial Observations of Landslides triggered by the 2018 Anchorage, Alaska earthquake Initial Observations of Landslides triggered by the 2018 Anchorage, Alaska earthquake
This data release provides the locations of 43 landslides that occurred during the 2018 Anchorage, Alaska earthquake mapped from high-resolution lidar (1-m). Lidar data can be accessed via the Alaska Division of Geological and Geophysical Surveys elevation portal (https://elevation.alaska.gov). Each landslide is represented as a point corresponding to the approximate location of the mid...
gfail_lifelines gfail_lifelines
gfail_lifelines is a package for estimating lifeline impacts caused by earthquake-triggered ground failure. It currently contains one module, gfroads, that combines the USGS earthquake-triggered landslide model (the Nowicki Jessee et al. 2017 model) estimates of areal coverage with Open Street Map roads to estimate the probability of a given road segment being affected.
Ground motion Fourier and response spectra from Utah earthquakes, 2010--2020 Ground motion Fourier and response spectra from Utah earthquakes, 2010--2020
Records from strong motion stations were downloaded from FDSN and CESMD data centers with a search radius of approximately 220 km from Salt Lake City. Waveforms were processed to deconvolve instrument response and for baseline corrections. Signal was separated from noise using an automated P-wave picker. The signal was then windowed to include the mean plus two standard deviations of the...
Field observations of ground failure triggered by the 2020 Puerto Rico earthquake sequence Field observations of ground failure triggered by the 2020 Puerto Rico earthquake sequence
This dataset consists of over 800 field observations of ground failure (landslides, lateral spreading, and liquefaction) and other damage triggered by the 2019-2020 Puerto Rico earthquake sequence. The sequence started with a M4.7 earthquake on 28 December 2019, followed by many more earthquakes, including 15 larger than M5 (as of 7 July 2020). The M6.4 mainshock, which is thought to...
Filter Total Items: 96
Site-specific, extended ShakeMaps for earthquake engineering applications Site-specific, extended ShakeMaps for earthquake engineering applications
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) routinely produces ShakeMaps of shaking intensity across the globe. Due to practical constraints, the number of response spectral periods was limited to three standard periods (0.3, 1.0, and 3.0 sec). We have recently developed the tools that are necessary to expand this functionality to include 22 periods (matching the current U.S. National Seismic...
Authors
Eric M. Thompson, Mike Hearne, Charles Worden, Vince Quitoriano, Annabelle Elizabeth Cunningham, David J. Wald
Automated, near real-time ground-motion processing at the U.S. Geological Survey Automated, near real-time ground-motion processing at the U.S. Geological Survey
We describe automated ground‐motion processing software named gmprocess that has been developed at the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) in support of near‐real‐time earthquake hazard products. Because of the open‐source development process, this software has benefitted from the involvement and contributions of a broad community and has been used for a wider range of applications than was...
Authors
Eric M. Thompson, Mike Hearne, Brad T. Aagaard, J.M. Rekoske, Charles Worden, Morgan P. Moschetti, Heather Elizabeth Hunsinger, Gabe C. Ferragut, Grace Alexandra Parker, James Andrew Smith, Kyle Ken Smith, Albert R. Kottke
Editorial: Enabling people-centered risk communication for geohazards Editorial: Enabling people-centered risk communication for geohazards
In the field of natural hazards, communicating science with the public and stakeholders (i.e., interested parties) involves entering the challenging and complex world of hazard and risk communication, the ultimate purpose of which is to reduce the impact of impending hazards on people and property at risk. Hazard and risk communication are adequate if they reach people with the...
Authors
Alessandro Amato, Sally H. Potter, Anna Scolobig, Eric M. Thompson
Comparing subduction ground-motion models to observations for Cascadia Comparing subduction ground-motion models to observations for Cascadia
We evaluate Cascadia subduction ground-motion models (GMMs), considered for the 2023 US National Seismic Hazard Model (NSHM) update, by comparing observations to model predictions. The observations comprise regional recordings from intraslab earthquakes, including contributions from 2021 and 2022 events in southern Cascadia and global records from interface earthquakes. Since the 2018...
Authors
James Andrew Smith, Morgan P. Moschetti, Eric M. Thompson
Earthquake-triggered ground-failure inventory associated with the M7.1 2018 Southcentral Alaska earthquake Earthquake-triggered ground-failure inventory associated with the M7.1 2018 Southcentral Alaska earthquake
The 30 November 2018, magnitude (Mw) 7.1 earthquake in Southcentral Alaska triggered substantial landslides, liquefaction, and ground cracking throughout the region, resulting in widespread geotechnical damage to buildings and infrastructure. Despite a challenging reconnaissance and remote-sensing environment, we constructed a detailed digital inventory of ground failure associated with...
Authors
Sabrina N. Martinez, Kate E. Allstadt, Eric M. Thompson, Sonia Ellison, Lauren N. Schaefer, Kelli Wadsworth Baxstrom
Basin effects from 3D simulated ground motions in the Greater Los Angeles region for use in seismic-hazard analyses Basin effects from 3D simulated ground motions in the Greater Los Angeles region for use in seismic-hazard analyses
We develop basin-depth-scaling models (i.e. “basin terms”) from the long-period (T≥2s) simulated ground motions of the Southern California Earthquake Center (SCEC) CyberShake project for use in seismic hazard analyses at sites within the sedimentary basins of southern California. Basin terms use the Next Generation Attenuation (NGA)-West-2 ground-motion models (GMMs) as reference...
Authors
Morgan P. Moschetti, Eric M. Thompson, Kyle Withers
Non-USGS Publications**
Thompson, E.M., Baise, L.G., Tanaka, Y. and Kayen, R.E., 2012. A taxonomy of site response complexity. Soil Dynamics and Earthquake Engineering, 41, pp.32-43.
Boore, D.M. and Thompson, E.M., 2012. Empirical improvements for estimating earthquake response spectra with random‐vibration theory. Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America, 102(2), pp.761-772.
Kaklamanos, J., Bradley, B.A., Thompson, E.M. and Baise, L.G., 2013. Critical parameters affecting bias and variability in site‐response analyses using KiK‐net downhole array data. Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America, 103(3), pp.1733-1749.
Kaklamanos, J., Baise, L.G., Thompson, E.M. and Dorfmann, L., 2015. Comparison of 1D linear, equivalent-linear, and nonlinear site response models at six KiK-net validation sites. Soil Dynamics and Earthquake Engineering, 69, pp.207-219.
Moss, R.E., Thompson, E.M., Kieffer, D.S., Tiwari, B., Hashash, Y.M., Acharya, I., Adhikari, B.R., Asimaki, D., Clahan, K.B., Collins, B.D. and Dahal, S., 2015. Geotechnical effects of the 2015 magnitude 7.8 Gorkha, Nepal, earthquake and aftershocks. Seismological Research Letters, 86(6), pp.1514-1523.
Thompson, E.M., Baise, L.G. and Vogel, R.M., 2007. A global index earthquake approach to probabilistic assessment of extremes. Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth, 112(B6).
Zhu, J., Daley, D., Baise, L.G., Thompson, E.M., Wald, D.J. and Knudsen, K.L., 2015. A geospatial liquefaction model for rapid response and loss estimation. Earthquake Spectra, 31(3), pp.1813-1837.
Thompson, E.M., Hewlett, J.B., Baise, L.G. and Vogel, R.M., 2011. The Gumbel hypothesis test for left censored observations using regional earthquake records as an example. Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences, 11(1), pp.115-126.
Baise, L.G., Lenz, J.A. and Thompson, E.M., 2008. Discussion of “Mapping liquefaction potential considering spatial correlations of CPT measurements” by Chia-Nan Liu and Chien-Hsun Chen. Journal of geotechnical and geoenvironmental engineering, 134(2), pp.262-263.
**Disclaimer: The views expressed in Non-USGS publications are those of the author and do not represent the views of the USGS, Department of the Interior, or the U.S. Government.
Science and Products
Filter Total Items: 25
Inventory of liquefaction features triggered by the 7 January 2020 M6.4 Puerto Rico earthquake Inventory of liquefaction features triggered by the 7 January 2020 M6.4 Puerto Rico earthquake
This dataset consists of an inventory of the locations of liquefaction-related phenomena triggered by the 7 January 2020 M6.4 Puerto Rico earthquake. The inventory is primarily based on field observations collected during post-earthquake reconnaissance conducted by the USGS and partners (Allstadt and others, 2020, Interactive Dashboard). Some additional locations were added based on...
Field reconnaissance of ground failure triggered by shaking during the 2018 M7.1 Anchorage, Alaska, earthquake Field reconnaissance of ground failure triggered by shaking during the 2018 M7.1 Anchorage, Alaska, earthquake
These data present geolocated photographs, GPS tracks, and field-mapped ground failures collected during the USGS reconnaissance of ground failures following the 2018 M7.1 Anchorage Earthquake.
Initial Observations of Landslides triggered by the 2018 Anchorage, Alaska earthquake Initial Observations of Landslides triggered by the 2018 Anchorage, Alaska earthquake
This data release provides the locations of 43 landslides that occurred during the 2018 Anchorage, Alaska earthquake mapped from high-resolution lidar (1-m). Lidar data can be accessed via the Alaska Division of Geological and Geophysical Surveys elevation portal (https://elevation.alaska.gov). Each landslide is represented as a point corresponding to the approximate location of the mid...
gfail_lifelines gfail_lifelines
gfail_lifelines is a package for estimating lifeline impacts caused by earthquake-triggered ground failure. It currently contains one module, gfroads, that combines the USGS earthquake-triggered landslide model (the Nowicki Jessee et al. 2017 model) estimates of areal coverage with Open Street Map roads to estimate the probability of a given road segment being affected.
Ground motion Fourier and response spectra from Utah earthquakes, 2010--2020 Ground motion Fourier and response spectra from Utah earthquakes, 2010--2020
Records from strong motion stations were downloaded from FDSN and CESMD data centers with a search radius of approximately 220 km from Salt Lake City. Waveforms were processed to deconvolve instrument response and for baseline corrections. Signal was separated from noise using an automated P-wave picker. The signal was then windowed to include the mean plus two standard deviations of the...
Field observations of ground failure triggered by the 2020 Puerto Rico earthquake sequence Field observations of ground failure triggered by the 2020 Puerto Rico earthquake sequence
This dataset consists of over 800 field observations of ground failure (landslides, lateral spreading, and liquefaction) and other damage triggered by the 2019-2020 Puerto Rico earthquake sequence. The sequence started with a M4.7 earthquake on 28 December 2019, followed by many more earthquakes, including 15 larger than M5 (as of 7 July 2020). The M6.4 mainshock, which is thought to...
Filter Total Items: 96
Site-specific, extended ShakeMaps for earthquake engineering applications Site-specific, extended ShakeMaps for earthquake engineering applications
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) routinely produces ShakeMaps of shaking intensity across the globe. Due to practical constraints, the number of response spectral periods was limited to three standard periods (0.3, 1.0, and 3.0 sec). We have recently developed the tools that are necessary to expand this functionality to include 22 periods (matching the current U.S. National Seismic...
Authors
Eric M. Thompson, Mike Hearne, Charles Worden, Vince Quitoriano, Annabelle Elizabeth Cunningham, David J. Wald
Automated, near real-time ground-motion processing at the U.S. Geological Survey Automated, near real-time ground-motion processing at the U.S. Geological Survey
We describe automated ground‐motion processing software named gmprocess that has been developed at the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) in support of near‐real‐time earthquake hazard products. Because of the open‐source development process, this software has benefitted from the involvement and contributions of a broad community and has been used for a wider range of applications than was...
Authors
Eric M. Thompson, Mike Hearne, Brad T. Aagaard, J.M. Rekoske, Charles Worden, Morgan P. Moschetti, Heather Elizabeth Hunsinger, Gabe C. Ferragut, Grace Alexandra Parker, James Andrew Smith, Kyle Ken Smith, Albert R. Kottke
Editorial: Enabling people-centered risk communication for geohazards Editorial: Enabling people-centered risk communication for geohazards
In the field of natural hazards, communicating science with the public and stakeholders (i.e., interested parties) involves entering the challenging and complex world of hazard and risk communication, the ultimate purpose of which is to reduce the impact of impending hazards on people and property at risk. Hazard and risk communication are adequate if they reach people with the...
Authors
Alessandro Amato, Sally H. Potter, Anna Scolobig, Eric M. Thompson
Comparing subduction ground-motion models to observations for Cascadia Comparing subduction ground-motion models to observations for Cascadia
We evaluate Cascadia subduction ground-motion models (GMMs), considered for the 2023 US National Seismic Hazard Model (NSHM) update, by comparing observations to model predictions. The observations comprise regional recordings from intraslab earthquakes, including contributions from 2021 and 2022 events in southern Cascadia and global records from interface earthquakes. Since the 2018...
Authors
James Andrew Smith, Morgan P. Moschetti, Eric M. Thompson
Earthquake-triggered ground-failure inventory associated with the M7.1 2018 Southcentral Alaska earthquake Earthquake-triggered ground-failure inventory associated with the M7.1 2018 Southcentral Alaska earthquake
The 30 November 2018, magnitude (Mw) 7.1 earthquake in Southcentral Alaska triggered substantial landslides, liquefaction, and ground cracking throughout the region, resulting in widespread geotechnical damage to buildings and infrastructure. Despite a challenging reconnaissance and remote-sensing environment, we constructed a detailed digital inventory of ground failure associated with...
Authors
Sabrina N. Martinez, Kate E. Allstadt, Eric M. Thompson, Sonia Ellison, Lauren N. Schaefer, Kelli Wadsworth Baxstrom
Basin effects from 3D simulated ground motions in the Greater Los Angeles region for use in seismic-hazard analyses Basin effects from 3D simulated ground motions in the Greater Los Angeles region for use in seismic-hazard analyses
We develop basin-depth-scaling models (i.e. “basin terms”) from the long-period (T≥2s) simulated ground motions of the Southern California Earthquake Center (SCEC) CyberShake project for use in seismic hazard analyses at sites within the sedimentary basins of southern California. Basin terms use the Next Generation Attenuation (NGA)-West-2 ground-motion models (GMMs) as reference...
Authors
Morgan P. Moschetti, Eric M. Thompson, Kyle Withers
Non-USGS Publications**
Thompson, E.M., Baise, L.G., Tanaka, Y. and Kayen, R.E., 2012. A taxonomy of site response complexity. Soil Dynamics and Earthquake Engineering, 41, pp.32-43.
Boore, D.M. and Thompson, E.M., 2012. Empirical improvements for estimating earthquake response spectra with random‐vibration theory. Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America, 102(2), pp.761-772.
Kaklamanos, J., Bradley, B.A., Thompson, E.M. and Baise, L.G., 2013. Critical parameters affecting bias and variability in site‐response analyses using KiK‐net downhole array data. Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America, 103(3), pp.1733-1749.
Kaklamanos, J., Baise, L.G., Thompson, E.M. and Dorfmann, L., 2015. Comparison of 1D linear, equivalent-linear, and nonlinear site response models at six KiK-net validation sites. Soil Dynamics and Earthquake Engineering, 69, pp.207-219.
Moss, R.E., Thompson, E.M., Kieffer, D.S., Tiwari, B., Hashash, Y.M., Acharya, I., Adhikari, B.R., Asimaki, D., Clahan, K.B., Collins, B.D. and Dahal, S., 2015. Geotechnical effects of the 2015 magnitude 7.8 Gorkha, Nepal, earthquake and aftershocks. Seismological Research Letters, 86(6), pp.1514-1523.
Thompson, E.M., Baise, L.G. and Vogel, R.M., 2007. A global index earthquake approach to probabilistic assessment of extremes. Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth, 112(B6).
Zhu, J., Daley, D., Baise, L.G., Thompson, E.M., Wald, D.J. and Knudsen, K.L., 2015. A geospatial liquefaction model for rapid response and loss estimation. Earthquake Spectra, 31(3), pp.1813-1837.
Thompson, E.M., Hewlett, J.B., Baise, L.G. and Vogel, R.M., 2011. The Gumbel hypothesis test for left censored observations using regional earthquake records as an example. Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences, 11(1), pp.115-126.
Baise, L.G., Lenz, J.A. and Thompson, E.M., 2008. Discussion of “Mapping liquefaction potential considering spatial correlations of CPT measurements” by Chia-Nan Liu and Chien-Hsun Chen. Journal of geotechnical and geoenvironmental engineering, 134(2), pp.262-263.
**Disclaimer: The views expressed in Non-USGS publications are those of the author and do not represent the views of the USGS, Department of the Interior, or the U.S. Government.