World's Best Scientists 2026 revealed!
James W. Kirchner

James W. Kirchner

Award Badge
Earth Science
Switzerland
2026

D-Index & Metrics

Discipline name D-Index World Ranking Current World Ranking National Ranking Current National Ranking Publications Citations
Earth Science 95 184 156 3 3 357 33497

James W. Kirchner publications per year

The chart shows the history of publications by James W. Kirchner between 1979 and 2026, highlighting the no. of papers published in each year and offering an overview of the publication velocity of this scholar. James W. Kirchner published across 48 years, from 1979 to 2026, averaging 11 papers a year. Output peaked at 37 publications in 2024. 36 of the 528 publications appeared in the last two years.

No. of publications
10 20 30
Bar chart. Horizontal axis: year, 1979 to 2026. Vertical axis: number of publications, 0 to 37. Peak 37 publications in 2024. 1979: 1 publication 1980: 0 publications 1981: 0 publications 1982: 0 publications 1983: 0 publications 1984: 0 publications 1985: 1 publication 1986: 0 publications 1987: 0 publications 1988: 0 publications 1989: 3 publications 1990: 2 publications 1991: 0 publications 1992: 3 publications 1993: 3 publications 1994: 2 publications 1995: 1 publication 1996: 3 publications 1997: 2 publications 1998: 1 publication 1999: 2 publications 2000: 14 publications 2001: 17 publications 2002: 12 publications 2003: 8 publications 2004: 17 publications 2005: 15 publications 2006: 6 publications 2007: 10 publications 2008: 11 publications 2009: 12 publications 2010: 12 publications 2011: 7 publications 2012: 11 publications 2013: 9 publications 2014: 16 publications 2015: 22 publications 2016: 28 publications 2017: 30 publications 2018: 23 publications 2019: 34 publications 2020: 36 publications 2021: 18 publications 2022: 27 publications 2023: 36 publications 2024: 37 publications 2025: 35 publications 2026: 1 publication
1979 2026

528 publications in total across all disciplines

View publications per year as a table
James W. Kirchner: publications per year, 1979 to 2026
Year Publications
1979 1
1980 0
1981 0
1982 0
1983 0
1984 0
1985 1
1986 0
1987 0
1988 0
1989 3
1990 2
1991 0
1992 3
1993 3
1994 2
1995 1
1996 3
1997 2
1998 1
1999 2
2000 14
2001 17
2002 12
2003 8
2004 17
2005 15
2006 6
2007 10
2008 11
2009 12
2010 12
2011 7
2012 11
2013 9
2014 16
2015 22
2016 28
2017 30
2018 23
2019 34
2020 36
2021 18
2022 27
2023 36
2024 37
2025 35
2026 1
Total 528
Download as CSV

James W. Kirchner publication distribution in Earth Science in 2026

The chart shows the distribution of publications by all Research.com ranked scientists in the field of Earth Science in 2026. The highlighted bar marks where James W. Kirchner sits on this spectrum.

No. of scientists
100 200 300 400 500
Bar chart with 58 bars. Horizontal axis: publications, 38–47 to 603+. Vertical axis: number of scientists, 0 to 557. Most scientists, 557, have 128–137 publications. The last bar groups every scientist with 603 publications or more. The highlighted bar, 348–357 publications, is where this scientist sits. 38–47 publications: 5 scientists 48–57 publications: 33 scientists 58–67 publications: 94 scientists 68–77 publications: 161 scientists 78–87 publications: 278 scientists 88–97 publications: 376 scientists 98–107 publications: 404 scientists 108–117 publications: 484 scientists 118–127 publications: 540 scientists 128–137 publications: 557 scientists 138–147 publications: 491 scientists 148–157 publications: 495 scientists 158–167 publications: 458 scientists 168–177 publications: 490 scientists 178–187 publications: 414 scientists 188–197 publications: 401 scientists 198–207 publications: 333 scientists 208–217 publications: 292 scientists 218–227 publications: 290 scientists 228–237 publications: 262 scientists 238–247 publications: 243 scientists 248–257 publications: 208 scientists 258–267 publications: 185 scientists 268–277 publications: 147 scientists 278–287 publications: 128 scientists 288–297 publications: 119 scientists 298–307 publications: 120 scientists 308–317 publications: 107 scientists 318–327 publications: 93 scientists 328–337 publications: 87 scientists 338–347 publications: 64 scientists 348–357 publications: 87 scientists 358–367 publications: 60 scientists 368–377 publications: 60 scientists 378–387 publications: 34 scientists 388–397 publications: 50 scientists 398–407 publications: 44 scientists 408–417 publications: 31 scientists 418–427 publications: 39 scientists 428–437 publications: 27 scientists 438–447 publications: 36 scientists 448–457 publications: 27 scientists 458–467 publications: 29 scientists 468–477 publications: 30 scientists 478–487 publications: 19 scientists 488–497 publications: 15 scientists 498–507 publications: 18 scientists 508–517 publications: 19 scientists 518–527 publications: 16 scientists 528–537 publications: 10 scientists 538–547 publications: 11 scientists 548–557 publications: 14 scientists 558–567 publications: 11 scientists 568–577 publications: 7 scientists 578–587 publications: 14 scientists 588–597 publications: 5 scientists 598–602 publications: 4 scientists 603+ publications: 100 scientists
38–47 publications 603+

This scientist: 357 publications — 92nd percentile

92% of scientists in this discipline score the same or lower.

The last bar groups every scientist with 603 publications or more.

View publications distribution as a table
Number of Earth Science scientists by publication count, Research.com 2026 ranking edition. Based on 9,176 ranked scientists.
Publications Scientists This scientist
38–47 5
48–57 33
58–67 94
68–77 161
78–87 278
88–97 376
98–107 404
108–117 484
118–127 540
128–137 557
138–147 491
148–157 495
158–167 458
168–177 490
178–187 414
188–197 401
198–207 333
208–217 292
218–227 290
228–237 262
238–247 243
248–257 208
258–267 185
268–277 147
278–287 128
288–297 119
298–307 120
308–317 107
318–327 93
328–337 87
338–347 64
348–357 87 357
358–367 60
368–377 60
378–387 34
388–397 50
398–407 44
408–417 31
418–427 39
428–437 27
438–447 36
448–457 27
458–467 29
468–477 30
478–487 19
488–497 15
498–507 18
508–517 19
518–527 16
528–537 10
538–547 11
548–557 14
558–567 11
568–577 7
578–587 14
588–597 5
598–602 4
603+ 100
Download as CSV

James W. Kirchner D-index placement in Earth Science in 2026

The chart shows the D-index (discipline H-index) distribution of Earth Science scientists ranked by Research.com in 2026. The highlighted bar marks where James W. Kirchner sits on this spectrum.

No. of scientists
100 200 300
Bar chart with 77 bars. Horizontal axis: D-Index, 30 to 106+. Vertical axis: number of scientists, 0 to 389. Most scientists, 389, have 36 D-Index. The last bar groups every scientist with 106 D-Index or more. The highlighted bar, 95 D-Index, is where this scientist sits. 30 D-Index: 144 scientists 31 D-Index: 215 scientists 32 D-Index: 278 scientists 33 D-Index: 379 scientists 34 D-Index: 366 scientists 35 D-Index: 372 scientists 36 D-Index: 389 scientists 37 D-Index: 366 scientists 38 D-Index: 344 scientists 39 D-Index: 349 scientists 40 D-Index: 296 scientists 41 D-Index: 289 scientists 42 D-Index: 277 scientists 43 D-Index: 279 scientists 44 D-Index: 248 scientists 45 D-Index: 257 scientists 46 D-Index: 212 scientists 47 D-Index: 202 scientists 48 D-Index: 207 scientists 49 D-Index: 204 scientists 50 D-Index: 183 scientists 51 D-Index: 178 scientists 52 D-Index: 182 scientists 53 D-Index: 178 scientists 54 D-Index: 163 scientists 55 D-Index: 117 scientists 56 D-Index: 163 scientists 57 D-Index: 120 scientists 58 D-Index: 113 scientists 59 D-Index: 136 scientists 60 D-Index: 135 scientists 61 D-Index: 96 scientists 62 D-Index: 103 scientists 63 D-Index: 83 scientists 64 D-Index: 103 scientists 65 D-Index: 83 scientists 66 D-Index: 89 scientists 67 D-Index: 92 scientists 68 D-Index: 89 scientists 69 D-Index: 78 scientists 70 D-Index: 75 scientists 71 D-Index: 53 scientists 72 D-Index: 62 scientists 73 D-Index: 54 scientists 74 D-Index: 35 scientists 75 D-Index: 52 scientists 76 D-Index: 50 scientists 77 D-Index: 32 scientists 78 D-Index: 37 scientists 79 D-Index: 20 scientists 80 D-Index: 33 scientists 81 D-Index: 36 scientists 82 D-Index: 34 scientists 83 D-Index: 34 scientists 84 D-Index: 24 scientists 85 D-Index: 19 scientists 86 D-Index: 18 scientists 87 D-Index: 26 scientists 88 D-Index: 30 scientists 89 D-Index: 17 scientists 90 D-Index: 21 scientists 91 D-Index: 19 scientists 92 D-Index: 15 scientists 93 D-Index: 14 scientists 94 D-Index: 20 scientists 95 D-Index: 9 scientists 96 D-Index: 10 scientists 97 D-Index: 15 scientists 98 D-Index: 13 scientists 99 D-Index: 3 scientists 100 D-Index: 13 scientists 101 D-Index: 3 scientists 102 D-Index: 9 scientists 103 D-Index: 4 scientists 104 D-Index: 6 scientists 105 D-Index: 6 scientists 106+ D-Index: 98 scientists
30 D-Index 106+

This scientist: 95 D-Index — 98th percentile

98% of scientists in this discipline score the same or lower.

The last bar groups every scientist with 106 D-Index or more.

View D-Index distribution as a table
Number of Earth Science scientists by D-index, Research.com 2026 ranking edition. Based on 9,176 ranked scientists.
D-Index Scientists This scientist
30 144
31 215
32 278
33 379
34 366
35 372
36 389
37 366
38 344
39 349
40 296
41 289
42 277
43 279
44 248
45 257
46 212
47 202
48 207
49 204
50 183
51 178
52 182
53 178
54 163
55 117
56 163
57 120
58 113
59 136
60 135
61 96
62 103
63 83
64 103
65 83
66 89
67 92
68 89
69 78
70 75
71 53
72 62
73 54
74 35
75 52
76 50
77 32
78 37
79 20
80 33
81 36
82 34
83 34
84 24
85 19
86 18
87 26
88 30
89 17
90 21
91 19
92 15
93 14
94 20
95 9 95
96 10
97 15
98 13
99 3
100 13
101 3
102 9
103 4
104 6
105 6
106+ 98
Download as CSV

Research.com Recognitions

  • 2026 - Research.com Earth Science in Switzerland Leader Award
  • 2025 - Research.com Earth Science in Switzerland Leader Award
  • 2022 - Research.com Earth Science in Switzerland Leader Award
  • 2008 - Fellow of American Geophysical Union (AGU)
  • 1995 - Hellman Fellow

Overview

James W. Kirchner is affiliated with ETH Zurich in Switzerland and is involved primarily in Environmental Science and Earth and Planetary Sciences. Their work spans several subfields, including Global and Planetary Change, Water Science and Technology, Atmospheric Science, Geochemistry and Petrology, and Environmental Engineering.

The scientist's research topics cover a broad range within hydrology and environmental processes. These include:

  • Hydrology and Watershed Management Studies
  • Plant Water Relations and Carbon Dynamics
  • Groundwater and Isotope Geochemistry
  • Hydrology and Sediment Transport Processes
  • Flood Risk Assessment and Management
  • Groundwater flow and contamination studies
  • Cryospheric studies and observations

James W. Kirchner has published frequently in several academic venues, which include:

  • Hydrology and earth system sciences
  • Geophysical Research Letters
  • Ecohydrology
  • Nature
  • Water Resources Research

Selected recent papers illustrate the thematic focus and timelines of their research:

  • "Rapid groundwater decline and some cases of recovery in aquifers globally," 2024, Nature
  • "Concentration-discharge relationships vary among hydrological events, reflecting differences in event characteristics," 2020, Hydrology and earth system sciences
  • "Toward catchment hydro-biogeochemical theories," 2020, Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews Water
  • "Groundwater level observations in 250,000 coastal US wells reveal scope of potential seawater intrusion," 2020, Nature Communications
  • "Widespread potential loss of streamflow into underlying aquifers across the USA," 2021, Nature

The scientist often collaborates with a consistent group of coauthors, including:

  • Hansjörg Seybold
  • Marius G. Floriancic
  • Scott T. Allen
  • Julia L. A. Knapp
  • Jana von Freyberg

James W. Kirchner has received recognition in the form of notable awards such as:

  • Fellow of American Geophysical Union (AGU), 2008
  • Hellman Fellow, 1995

Best Publications

  • Getting the right answers for the right reasons: Linking measurements, analyses, and models to advance the science of hydrology

    James W. Kirchner

  • Fractal stream chemistry and its implications for contaminant transport in catchments

    James W. Kirchner;Xiahong Feng;Colin Neal

  • Twenty-three unsolved problems in hydrology (UPH)–a community perspective

    Günter Blöschl;Marc F.P. Bierkens;Antonio Chambel;Christophe Cudennec

  • Catchments as simple dynamical systems: catchment characterization, rainfall-runoff modeling, and doing hydrology backward.

    James W. Kirchner;James W. Kirchner;James W. Kirchner

  • Moving beyond heterogeneity and process complexity: A new vision for watershed hydrology

    J J McDonnell;J J McDonnell;M Sivapalan;K Vache;S Dunn

  • Sediment supply and the development of the coarse surface layer in gravel-bedded rivers

    William E. Dietrich;James W. Kirchner;Hiroshi Ikeda;Fujiko Iseya

  • Concentration–discharge relationships reflect chemostatic characteristics of US catchments

    Sarah E. Godsey;James W. Kirchner;James W. Kirchner;James W. Kirchner;David W. Clow

  • Spatially Averaged Long-Term Erosion Rates Measured from in Situ-Produced Cosmogenic Nuclides in Alluvial Sediment

    Darryl E. Granger;James W. Kirchner;Robert Finkel

  • Evidence for nonlinear, diffusive sediment transport on hillslopes and implications for landscape morphology

    Joshua J. Roering;James W. Kirchner;William E. Dietrich

  • Mountain erosion over 10 yr, 10 k.y., and 10 m.y. time scales

    James W. Kirchner;Robert C. Finkel;Clifford S. Riebe;Darryl E. Granger

  • EVOLUTIONARY DYNAMICS OF PATHOGEN RESISTANCE AND TOLERANCE

    B. A. Roy;J. W. Kirchner

  • A double paradox in catchment hydrology and geochemistry

    James W. Kirchner

  • Erosional and climatic effects on long-term chemical weathering rates in granitic landscapes spanning diverse climate regimes ☆

    Clifford S. Riebe;James W. Kirchner;Robert C. Finkel;Robert C. Finkel

  • Hillslope Hydrology in Global Change Research and Earth System Modeling

    Ying Fan;M. Clark;D. M. Lawrence;S. Swenson

  • The fine structure of water‐quality dynamics: the (high‐frequency) wave of the future

    James W. Kirchner;Xiahong Feng;Colin Neal;Alice J. Robson

  • The variability of critical shear stress, friction angle, and grain protrusion in water-worked sediments

    James W. Kirchner;William E. Dietrich;Fujiko Iseya;Hiroshi Ikeda

  • Catchment-scale advection and dispersion as a mechanism for fractal scaling in stream tracer concentrations

    James W Kirchner;Xiahong Feng;Colin Neal

  • Strong tectonic and weak climatic control of long-term chemical weathering rates

    Clifford S. Riebe;James W. Kirchner;Darryl E. Granger;Robert C. Finkel

  • Aggregation in environmental systems – Part 1: Seasonal tracer cycles quantify young water fractions, but not mean transit times, in spatially heterogeneous catchments

    J. W. Kirchner

  • Substantial proportion of global streamflow less than three months old

    Scott Jasechko;James W. Kirchner;James W. Kirchner;Jeffrey M. Welker;Jeffrey J. McDonnell;Jeffrey J. McDonnell;Jeffrey J. McDonnell

  • Long-term rates of chemical weathering and physical erosion from cosmogenic nuclides and geochemical mass balance

    Clifford S. Riebe;James W. Kirchner;Robert C. Finkel;Robert C. Finkel

  • How old is streamwater? Open questions in catchment transit time conceptualization, modelling and analysis

    J. J. McDonnell;J. J. McDonnell;K. McGuire;P. Aggarwal;K. J. Beven

Frequent Co-Authors

Robert C. Finkel
Robert C. Finkel Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
William E. Dietrich
William E. Dietrich University of California, Berkeley
Jens M. Turowski
Jens M. Turowski University of Potsdam
Colin Neal
Colin Neal Ford Motor Company (United States)
Dieter Rickenmann
Dieter Rickenmann Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research
Jeffrey J. McDonnell
Jeffrey J. McDonnell University of Saskatchewan
Jan Seibert
Jan Seibert University of Zurich
Joshua J. Roering
Joshua J. Roering University of Oregon
Darryl E. Granger
Darryl E. Granger Purdue University West Lafayette
Scott Jasechko
Scott Jasechko University of California, Santa Barbara

If you think any of the details on this page are incorrect, let us know.

Report an issue

We appreciate your kind effort to assist us to improve this page, it would be helpful providing us with as much detail as possible in the text box below:

Related Online Degrees & Career Pathways

Studying Earth Science opens doors to diverse career paths that often intersect with other fields. Professionals with a background in environmental studies, geology, or meteorology may find value in complementary skills gained through online programs. For instance, veterans interested in creative disciplines might explore an online photography bachelor degree for veterans, blending scientific observation with artistic expression.

Language skills are increasingly important for global communication in Earth Science roles. Pursuing a veteran friendly online Spanish degree can enhance career prospects in international environmental consulting and research.

Moreover, the demand for affordable and efficient education options means that many students seek programs like the spanish online degree, which combine quality with value. These pathways are excellent for professionals who want to quickly gain credentials while balancing work and study.

Creative professionals in the Earth Science sector might also consider an mfa degree online to refine their storytelling and communication skills, critical for effective science outreach and education.

Best Scientists Citing James W. Kirchner

Trending Scientists

Recently Published Articles