Jonathan Godt
Jonathan is the Program Coordinator for Landslide Hazards and leads the only federal program dedicated to landslide science and risk reduction.
As the Program Coordinator for Landslide Hazards, I am the principal voice for USGS landslide science for the public, media, Congress, states, and other partners. I am responsible for the scientific direction and priorities of the program and oversee its interactions with USGS Science Centers. I began my career with the USGS as a graduate student and until 2014 was a Research Physical Scientists focusing on understanding the physical processes controlling landslide initiation. I have led several technical assistance teams responding to disasters both domestically and abroad, helping inform emergency management and other decisions. I have acted in several other leadership positions in the Natural Hazards Mission Area.
Professional Experience
2014 to present – Program Coordinator, Landslide Hazards, U.S. Geological Survey Natural Hazards Mission Area, Golden, CO.
January 2023 to January 2024 – Acting Program Coordinator, Volcano Hazards, U.S. Geological Survey Natural Hazards Mission Area, Golden, CO.
July 2022 to December 2022 – Acting Associate Director U.S. Geological Survey Natural Hazards Mission Area, Golden, CO.
February 2019 to April 2020 – Acting Senior Science Advisor for Earthquake and Geologic Hazards, U.S. Geological Survey Natural Hazards Mission Area, Golden, CO.
1998 to 2014 – Research Physical Scientist, U.S. Geological Survey, Geologic Hazards Science Center, Golden CO.
Education and Certifications
2004 – Ph.D. Geography, University of Colorado, Boulder
1998 – M.S. Environmental Science, University of Colorado, Denver
1990 – B.A. Political Science, Purdue University, West Lafayette
Honors and Awards
2022 Department of the Interior Meritorious Service Award for outstanding contributions to the USGS in improving the Nation’s preparedness for landslide and other geologic hazards.
Science and Products
Numerical modeling of rainfall thresholds for shallow landsliding in the Seattle, Washington, area
Landslides and engineering geology of the Seattle, Washington, area
Modeling landslide recurrence in Seattle, Washington, USA
Ferguson rock slide buries California State Highway near Yosemite National Park
A prototype system for forecasting landslides in the Seattle, Washington, area
Modeling rainfall conditions for shallow landsliding in Seattle, Washington
Preface
Infinite slope stability under steady unsaturated seepage conditions
Development of a global slope dataset for estimation of landslide occurrence resulting from earthquakes
Field Reconnaissance of Debris Flows Triggered by a July 21, 2007, Thunderstorm in Alpine, Colorado, and Vicinity
Rainfall thresholds for forecasting landslides in the Seattle, Washington, area — Exceedance and probability
Hydrologic monitoring of landslide-prone coastal bluffs near Edmonds and Everett, Washington, 2001-2004
Science and Products
- Publications
Filter Total Items: 79
Numerical modeling of rainfall thresholds for shallow landsliding in the Seattle, Washington, area
The temporal forecasting of landslide hazard has typically relied on empirical relations between rainfall characteristics and landslide occurrence to identify conditions that may cause shallow landslides. Here, we describe an alternate, deterministic approach to define rainfall thresholds for landslide occurrence in the Seattle, Washington, area. This approach combines an infinite slope-stabilityAuthorsJonathan W. Godt, Jonathan P. McKennaLandslides and engineering geology of the Seattle, Washington, area
This volume brings together case studies and summary papers describing the application of state-of-the-art engineering geologic methods to landslide hazard analysis for the Seattle, Washington, area. An introductory chapter provides a thorough description of the Quaternary and bedrock geology of Seattle. Nine additional chapters review the history of landslide mapping in Seattle, present case studAuthorsRex L. Baum, Jonathan W. Godt, Lynn M. HighlandModeling landslide recurrence in Seattle, Washington, USA
To manage the hazard associated with shallow landslides, decision makers need an understanding of where and when landslides may occur. A variety of approaches have been used to estimate the hazard from shallow, rainfall-triggered landslides, such as empirical rainfall threshold methods or probabilistic methods based on historical records. The wide availability of Geographic Information Systems (GIAuthorsDiana Salciarini, Jonathan W. Godt, William Z. Savage, Rex L. Baum, Pietro ConversiniFerguson rock slide buries California State Highway near Yosemite National Park
During spring 2006, talus from the toe area of a rock-block slide of about 800,000 m3 buried California State Highway 140, one of the main routes into heavily-visited Yosemite National Park, USA. Closure of the highway for 92 days caused business losses of about 4.8 million USD. The rock slide, composed of slate and phyllite, moved slowly downslope from April to June 2006, creating a fresh head scAuthorsEdwin L. Harp, Mark E. Reid, Jonathan W. Godt, Jerome V. DeGraff, Alan J. GallegosA prototype system for forecasting landslides in the Seattle, Washington, area
Empirical rainfall thresholds and related information form the basis of a prototype system for forecasting landslides in the Seattle area. The forecasts are tied to four alert levels, and a decision tree guides the use of thresholds to determine the appropriate level. From analysis of historical landslide data, we developed a formula for a cumulative rainfall threshold (CT), P3 = 88.9 − 0.67P15,AuthorsAlan F. Chleborad, Rex L. Baum, Jonathan W. Godt, Philip S. PowersModeling rainfall conditions for shallow landsliding in Seattle, Washington
We describe the results from an application of a distributed, transient infiltration–slope-stability model for an 18 km2 area of southwestern Seattle, Washington, USA. The model (TRIGRS) combines an infinite slope-stability calculation and an analytic, one-dimensional solution for pore-pressure diffusion in a soil layer of finite depth in response to time-varying rainfall. The transient solution fAuthorsJonathan W. Godt, William H. Schulz, Rex L. Baum, William Z. SavagePreface
The idea for Landslides and Engineering Geology of the Seattle, Washington, Areagrew out of a major landslide disaster that occurred in the Puget Sound region at the beginning of 1997. Unusually heavy snowfall in late December 1996 followed by warm, intense rainfall on 31 December through 2 January 1997 produced hundreds of damaging landslides in communities surrounding Puget Sound. This disasterAuthorsRex L. Baum, Jonathan W. Godt, Lynn M. HighlandInfinite slope stability under steady unsaturated seepage conditions
We present a generalized framework for the stability of infinite slopes under steady unsaturated seepage conditions. The analytical framework allows the water table to be located at any depth below the ground surface and variation of soil suction and moisture content above the water table under steady infiltration conditions. The framework also explicitly considers the effect of weathering and porAuthorsNing Lu, Jonathan W. GodtDevelopment of a global slope dataset for estimation of landslide occurrence resulting from earthquakes
Landslides resulting from earthquakes can cause widespread loss of life and damage to critical infrastructure. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) has developed an alarm system, PAGER (Prompt Assessment of Global Earthquakes for Response), that aims to provide timely information to emergency relief organizations on the impact of earthquakes. Landslides are responsible for many of the damaging effectAuthorsKristine L. Verdin, Jonathan W. Godt, Christopher C. Funk, Diego Pedreros, Bruce Worstell, James VerdinField Reconnaissance of Debris Flows Triggered by a July 21, 2007, Thunderstorm in Alpine, Colorado, and Vicinity
On the evening of July 21, 2007, a slow-moving thunderstorm triggered about 45 debris flows on steep mountainsides near the community of Alpine, Colorado. Most of the debris flows were initiated by surface-water runoff that eroded and entrained loose sediment in previously existing channels. About 12 of the debris-flow channels were located in the lower half of Weldon Gulch upslope from Alpine, whAuthorsJeffrey A. Coe, Jonathan W. Godt, T.C. Wait, Jason W. KeanRainfall thresholds for forecasting landslides in the Seattle, Washington, area — Exceedance and probability
Empirical rainfall thresholds and related information form a basis for forecasting landslides in the Seattle area. A formula for a cumulative rainfall threshold (CT), P3=3.5–0.67P15, defined by rainfall amounts (in inches) during the last 3 days (72 hours), P3, and the previous 15 days (360 hours), P15, was developed from analysis of historical data for 91 landslides that occurred as part of 3-dayAuthorsAlan F. Chleborad, Rex L. Baum, Jonathan W. GodtHydrologic monitoring of landslide-prone coastal bluffs near Edmonds and Everett, Washington, 2001-2004
No abstract available.AuthorsRex L. Baum, Jonathan P. McKenna, Jonathan W. Godt, Edwin L. Harp, Steven R. McMullen - Science
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