Thomas H. Jordan
{{Short description|American seismologist}}
{{Similar names|Thomas Jordan (disambiguation){{!}}Thomas Jordan}}
{{COI|date=June 2015}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2023}}
{{Infobox scientist
| name = Thomas H. Jordan
| image = Thomas H. Jordan at USC Creativity & Collaboration.jpg
| caption = Aat USC Creativity & Collaboration in 2010
| birth_date =
| birth_place = Coco Solo, Panama Canal Zone{{citation needed|date=May 2024}}
| death_date =
| death_place =
| citizenship = United States{{citation needed|date=May 2024}}
| alma_mater = California Institute of Technology
| workplaces = University of Southern California, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Princeton University
| fields = Seismology, Geology
| doctoral_advisor = Don L. Anderson{{cite web|url=http://www.agu.org/about/honors/union/lehmann/jordan_thomash.shtml |title=Welcome |publisher=AGU |date=2015-06-01 |accessdate=2015-06-18}}
| known_for = Plate Tectonics, Seismology, Imaging Techniques{{cite web|author=Li Zhao1, Thomas H. Jordan1, Kim B. Olsen2 and Po Chen1 |url=http://www.bssaonline.org/cgi/content/abstract/95/6/2066 |title=Fréchet Kernels for Imaging Regional Earth Structure Based on Three-Dimensional Reference Models |publisher=Bssaonline.org |date=2005-12-01 |accessdate=2015-06-18}}
}}
Thomas H. Jordan is an American seismologist, and former director (2002–2017) of the Southern California Earthquake Center at The University of Southern California. He was formerly the head of the Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences Department at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and is a member of the National Academy of Sciences,{{Cite web|title=Thomas H. Jordan|url=http://www.nasonline.org/member-directory/members/54042.html|access-date=2021-10-05|website=nasonline.org}} the American Academy of Arts and Sciences,{{Cite web|title=Thomas Hillman Jordan|url=https://www.amacad.org/person/thomas-hillman-jordan|access-date=2021-10-05|website=American Academy of Arts & Sciences|language=en}} and the American Philosophical Society.{{Cite web|title=APS Member History|url=https://search.amphilsoc.org/memhist/search?creator=Thomas+H.+Jordan&title=&subject=&subdiv=&mem=&year=&year-max=&dead=&keyword=&smode=advanced|access-date=2021-10-05|website=search.amphilsoc.org}}
Research
Jordan has made significant contributions to plate tectonics concerning the structure of continents, the depth of lithospheric slab penetration, and the nature of mantle convection, for example determining the exact nature and processes involved in plate subduction.{{cite web|url=http://www.agu.org/pubs/crossref/1986/JB091iB03p03573.shtml |title=Welcome |publisher=AGU |date=2015-06-01 |accessdate=2015-06-18}} Jordan has also pioneered many seismic imaging techniques which he developed for his doctoral dissertation and are now used widely to understand the interior of the earth.{{cite CiteSeerX|title=Full 3D Tomography: A Comparison Between the Scattering-Integral and Adjoint-Wavefield Methods |year = 2006|citeseerx = 10.1.1.105.8356}} Jordan has served on international committees concerning seismic hazard.{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2011-mar-15-la-me-tsunami-california-20110315-story.html |title=California reactors less vulnerable – latimes |work=Los Angeles Times |date=2011-03-15 |access-date=2015-06-18}}{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/15/world/europe/15italy.html|title=Indictments Over 2009 Quake Cause Quite a Furor|newspaper=The New York Times|date=15 June 2011 |accessdate=2015-06-18|last1=Povoledo |first1=Elisabetta }}{{cite web|url=http://www.newswise.com/articles/doe-awards-record-supercomputing-time-to-uc-san-diego-sdsc-researchers |title=DOE Awards Record Supercomputing Time to UC San Diego, SDSC Researchers |publisher=Newswise.com |date=2012-01-12 |accessdate=2015-06-18}}
Awards
In 2017, Jordan was nominated and selected to receive the Bowie Medal, one of the highest honors the American Geophysical Union awards its members. However, AGU rescinded the medal following receipt of a formal ethics complaint and corresponding investigation. The AGU board reaffirmed its decision following an appeal.{{Cite journal|last=Reardon|first=Sara|date=2018-05-16|title=Geoscience society rescinds award to top seismologist after ethics investigation|url=https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-018-05171-4|journal=Nature|language=en|doi=10.1038/d41586-018-05171-4}}
Publications
Jordan has been published extensively in scientific journals.{{cite web|url=http://dornsife.usc.edu/tools/mytools/PersonnelInfoSystem/DOC/Faculty/ERTH/vita_1003391.pdf |title=Thomas Hillman Jordan : Resume |publisher=Dornslife.usc.edu |accessdate=2015-06-18}} He has also published two textbooks, Understanding Earth and The Essential Earth.
References
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{{s-bef|before=Thomas Henyey}}
{{s-ttl|title=Southern California Earthquake Center Director |years=October 2000 – present}}
{{s-aft|after= Incumbent}}
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{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Jordan, Thomas H.}}
Category:American geophysicists
Category:Massachusetts Institute of Technology people
Category:University of Southern California people
Category:California Institute of Technology alumni
Category:University of Southern California faculty
Category:Southern California Earthquake Center
Category:Members of the United States National Academy of Sciences
Category:Fellows of the American Geophysical Union