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
Coseismic landslides reveal near-surface rock strength in a high-relief tectonically active setting
Experimental test of theory for the stability of partially saturated vertical cut slopes
Evaluating a slope-stability model for shallow rain-induced landslides using gage and satellite data
Hydrologic monitoring of a landslide-prone hillslope in the Elliott State Forest, Southern Coast Range, Oregon, 2009-2012
Landslides in the northern Colorado Front Range caused by rainfall, September 11-13, 2013
Interrelations among the soil-water retention, hydraulic conductivity, and suction-stress characteristic curves
Plenary: Progress in Regional Landslide Hazard Assessment—Examples from the USA
Hysteresis and uncertainty in soil water-retention curve parameters
Correction to “Estimating the timing and location of shallow rainfall-induced landslides using a model for transient, unsaturated infiltration”
Hysteresis of unsaturated hydromechanical properties of a silty soil
U.S. Geological Survey natural hazards science strategy— Promoting the safety, security, and economic well-being of the Nation
Deterministic estimation of hydrological thresholds for shallow landslide initiation and slope stability models: case study from the Somma-Vesuvius area of southern Italy
Science and Products
- Publications
Filter Total Items: 79
Coseismic landslides reveal near-surface rock strength in a high-relief tectonically active setting
We present quantitative estimates of near-surface rock strength relevant to landscape evolution and landslide hazard assessment for 15 geologic map units of the Longmen Shan, China. Strength estimates are derived from a novel method that inverts earthquake peak ground acceleration models and coseismic landslide inventories to obtain material proper- ties and landslide thickness. Aggregate rock strAuthorsSean F. Gallen, Marin K. Clark, Jonathan W. GodtExperimental test of theory for the stability of partially saturated vertical cut slopes
This paper extends Culmann's vertical-cut analysis to unsaturated soils. To test the extended theory, unsaturated sand was compacted to a uniform porosity and moisture content in a laboratory apparatus. A sliding door that extended the height of the free face of the slope was lowered until the vertical cut failed. Digital images of the slope cross section and upper surface were acquired concurrentAuthorsMichael M. Morse, N. Lu, Alexandra Wayllace, Jonathan W. Godt, W.A. TakeEvaluating a slope-stability model for shallow rain-induced landslides using gage and satellite data
Improving prediction of landslide early warning systems requires accurate estimation of the conditions that trigger slope failures. This study tested a slope-stability model for shallow rainfall-induced landslides by utilizing rainfall information from gauge and satellite records. We used the TRIGRS model (Transient Rainfall Infiltration and Grid-based Regional Slope-stability analysis) for simulaAuthorsS. Yatheendradas, D. Kirschbaum, Rex L. Baum, Jonathan W. GodtHydrologic monitoring of a landslide-prone hillslope in the Elliott State Forest, Southern Coast Range, Oregon, 2009-2012
The Oregon Coast Range is dissected by numerous unchanneled headwater basins, which can generate shallow landslides and debris flows during heavy or prolonged rainfall. An automated monitoring system was installed in an unchanneled headwater basin to measure rainfall, volumetric water content, groundwater temperature, and pore pressures at 15-minute intervals. The purpose of this report is toAuthorsJoel B. Smith, Jonathan W. Godt, Rex L. Baum, Jeffrey A. Coe, William J. Burns, Michael M. Morse, Basak Sener-Kaya, Murat KayaLandslides in the northern Colorado Front Range caused by rainfall, September 11-13, 2013
During the second week of September 2013, nearly continuous rainfall caused widespread landslides and flooding in the northern Colorado Front Range. The combination of landslides and flooding was responsible for eight fatalities and caused extensive damage to buildings, highways, and infrastructure. Three fatalities were attributed to a fast moving type of landslide called debris flow. One fatalitAuthorsJonathan W. Godt, Jeffrey A. Coe, Jason W. Kean, Rex L. Baum, Eric S. Jones, Edwin L. Harp, Dennis M. Staley, William D. BarnhartInterrelations among the soil-water retention, hydraulic conductivity, and suction-stress characteristic curves
The three fundamental constitutive relations that describe fluid flow, strength, and deformation behavior of variably saturated soils are the soil-water retention curve (SWRC), hydraulic conductivity function (HCF), and suction-stress characteristic curve (SSCC). Until recently, the interrelations among the SWRC, HCF, and SSCC have not been well established. This work sought experimental confirmatAuthorsNing Lu, Murat Kaya, Jonathan W. GodtPlenary: Progress in Regional Landslide Hazard Assessment—Examples from the USA
Landslide hazard assessment at local and regional scales contributes to mitigation of landslides in developing and densely populated areas by providing information for (1) land development and redevelopment plans and regulations, (2) emergency preparedness plans, and (3) economic analysis to (a) set priorities for engineered mitigation projects and (b) define areas of similar levels of hazard forAuthorsRex L. Baum, William Schulz, Dianne L. Brien, William J. Burns, Mark E. Reid, Jonathan W. GodtHysteresis and uncertainty in soil water-retention curve parameters
Accurate estimates of soil hydraulic parameters representing wetting and drying paths are required for predicting hydraulic and mechanical responses in a large number of applications. A comprehensive suite of laboratory experiments was conducted to measure hysteretic soil-water characteristic curves (SWCCs) representing a wide range of soil types. Results were used to quantitatively assess differeAuthorsWilliam J. Likos, Ning Lu, Jonathan W. GodtCorrection to “Estimating the timing and location of shallow rainfall-induced landslides using a model for transient, unsaturated infiltration”
No abstract is available for this article.AuthorsRex L. Baum, Jonathan W. GodtHysteresis of unsaturated hydromechanical properties of a silty soil
Laboratory tests to examine hysteresis in the hydrologic and mechanical properties of partially saturated soils were conducted on six intact specimens collected from a landslide-prone area of Alameda County, California. The results reveal that the pore-size distribution parameter remains statistically unchanged between the wetting and drying paths; however, the wetting or drying state has a pronouAuthorsNing Lu, Murat Kaya, Brian D. Collins, Jonathan W. GodtU.S. Geological Survey natural hazards science strategy— Promoting the safety, security, and economic well-being of the Nation
Executive SummaryThe mission of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) in natural hazards is to develop and apply hazard science to help protect the safety, security, and economic well-being of the Nation. The costs and consequences of natural hazards can be enormous, and each year more people and infrastructure are at risk. USGS scientific research—founded on detailed observations and improved understAuthorsRobert R. Holmes, Lucile M. Jones, Jeffery C. Eidenshink, Jonathan W. Godt, Stephen H. Kirby, Jeffrey J. Love, Christina A. Neal, Nathaniel G. Plant, Michael L. Plunkett, Craig S. Weaver, Anne Wein, Suzanne C. PerryDeterministic estimation of hydrological thresholds for shallow landslide initiation and slope stability models: case study from the Somma-Vesuvius area of southern Italy
Rainfall-induced debris flows involving ash-fall pyroclastic deposits that cover steep mountain slopes surrounding the Somma-Vesuvius volcano are natural events and a source of risk for urban settlements located at footslopes in the area. This paper describes experimental methods and modelling results of shallow landslides that occurred on 5–6 May 1998 in selected areas of the Sarno Mountain RangeAuthorsRex L. Baum, Jonathan W. Godt, P. De Vita, E. Napolitano - Science
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