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
Map showing alpine debris flows triggered by a July 28, 1999 thunderstorm in the central Front Range of Colorado
Debris flows along the Interstate 70 corridor, Floyd Hill to the Arapahoe Basin ski area, central Colorado: A field trip guidebook
TRIGRS; a Fortran program for transient rainfall infiltration and grid-based regional slope-stability analysis
Landslides triggered by Hurricane Mitch in Guatemala -- inventory and discussion
El Nino 1997-98; direct costs of damaging landslides in the San Francisco Bay region
Digital compilation of landslide overview map of the conterminous United States
El Nino and the National Landslide Hazard Outlook for 1997-1998
Science and Products
- Publications
Filter Total Items: 79
Map showing alpine debris flows triggered by a July 28, 1999 thunderstorm in the central Front Range of Colorado
This 1:24,000-scale map shows an inventory of debris flows that were triggered above timberline by a thunderstorm in the central Front Range of Colorado. We have classified the debris flows into two categories based on the style of initiation processes in the debris-flow source areas: 1) soil slip, and 2) non-soil slip erosive processes. This map and associated digital data are part of a larger stAuthorsJonathan W. Godt, Jeffrey A. CoeDebris flows along the Interstate 70 corridor, Floyd Hill to the Arapahoe Basin ski area, central Colorado: A field trip guidebook
No abstract available.AuthorsJeffrey A. Coe, Jonathan W. Godt, Alan J. HencerothTRIGRS; a Fortran program for transient rainfall infiltration and grid-based regional slope-stability analysis
No abstract available.AuthorsRex L. Baum, William Z. Savage, Jonathan W. GodtLandslides triggered by Hurricane Mitch in Guatemala -- inventory and discussion
The torrential rains that accompanied Hurricane Mitch in October and November of 1998 triggered thousands of landslides in the moderate to steep terrain bordering the Motagua and Polochic Rivers in eastern Guatemala. Using aerial photographs taken between January and March 2000 we mapped all visible landslides larger than about 15 m in minimum dimension in a study area of 10,000 km2 encomAuthorsRobert C. Bucknam, Jeffrey A. Coe, Manuel Mota Chavarria, Jonathan W. Godt, Arthur C. Tarr, Lee-Ann Bradley, Sharon A. Rafferty, Dean Hancock, Richard L. Dart, Margo L. JohnsonEl Nino 1997-98; direct costs of damaging landslides in the San Francisco Bay region
No abstract available.AuthorsJonathan W. Godt, W. Z. SavageDigital compilation of landslide overview map of the conterminous United States
This dataset consists of polygons enclosing areas of landslide incidence and susceptibility for the conterminous United States.AuthorsJonathan W. Godt, Dorothy H. Radbruch-HallEl Nino and the National Landslide Hazard Outlook for 1997-1998
No abstract available.AuthorsJonathan W. Godt, Lynn M. Highland, William Z. Savage - Science
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