World's Best Scientists 2026 revealed!

D-Index & Metrics

Earth Science

D-Index
46
Citations
9061
World Ranking
4170
National Ranking
36

Overview

John Townend is affiliated with Victoria University of Wellington in New Zealand, focusing on research in Earth and Planetary Sciences. Their work predominantly lies within the subfield of Geophysics, with additional contributions to Artificial Intelligence, Ocean Engineering, Civil and Structural Engineering, and aspects of Management, Monitoring, Policy, and Law.

Their research topics cover a broad spectrum related to seismic activity and geophysical processes, including:

  • Earthquake and tectonic studies
  • Seismology and earthquake studies
  • Seismic waves and analysis
  • High-pressure geophysics and materials
  • Geological and geochemical analysis
  • Seismic imaging and inversion techniques
  • Earthquake detection and analysis

The scientist has contributed to several recent papers, notably:

  • The New Zealand Community Fault Model - version 1.0: an improved geological foundation for seismic hazard modelling (2023), published in New Zealand Journal of Geology and Geophysics
  • The 2022 Aotearoa New Zealand National Seismic Hazard Model: Process, Overview, and Results (2023), published in Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America
  • The Seismicity Rate Model for the 2022 Aotearoa New Zealand National Seismic Hazard Model (2024), published in Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America
  • Illuminating the Pre-, Co-, and Post-Seismic Phases of the 2016 M7.8 Kaikōura Earthquake With 10 Years of Seismicity (2021), published in Journal of Geophysical Research Solid Earth
  • An automated workflow for adjoint tomography-waveform misfits and synthetic inversions for the North Island, New Zealand (2020), published in Geophysical Journal International

Frequent collaborators include:

  • C. J. Chamberlain
  • Matthew C. Gerstenberger
  • Emily Warren-Smith
  • William B. Frank
  • Finnigan Illsley-Kemp

John Townend's work has appeared in several key publication venues such as:

  • Journal of Geophysical Research Solid Earth
  • Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
  • Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America
  • Geochemistry Geophysics Geosystems
  • Seismological Research Letters

Best Publications

  • How faulting keeps the crust strong

    John Townend;Mark D. Zoback

  • Implications of hydrostatic pore pressures and high crustal strength for the deformation of intraplate lithosphere

    Mark D. Zoback;John Townend

  • Ambient noise Rayleigh wave tomography of New Zealand

    Fan Chi Lin;Michael H. Ritzwoller;John Townend;Stephen Bannister

  • Calculating horizontal stress orientations with full or partial knowledge of the tectonic stress tensor

    Björn Lund;John Townend

  • Regional tectonic stress near the San Andreas fault in central and southern California

    J. Townend;M. D. Zoback

  • Triggering of the Pohang, Korea, Earthquake (Mw 5.5) by Enhanced Geothermal System Stimulation

    William L. Ellsworth;Domenico Giardini;John Townend;Shemin Ge

  • Characterizing the seismogenic zone of a major plate boundary subduction thrust: Hikurangi Margin, New Zealand

    Laura M. Wallace;Martin Reyners;Ursula Cochran;Stephen Bannister

  • Do great earthquakes occur on the Alpine fault in central South Island, New Zealand?

    R. Sutherland;D. Eberhart‐Phillips;R. A. Harris;T. Stern

  • Managing injection-induced seismic risks.

    Kang-Kun Lee;William L. Ellsworth;Domenico Giardini;John Townend

  • Slow slip on the northern Hikurangi subduction interface, New Zealand

    Annie Douglas;J. Beavan;L. Wallace;J. Townend

  • Stress, strain, and mountain building in central Japan

    John Townend;Mark D. Zoback

  • Drilling reveals fluid control on architecture and rupture of the Alpine fault, New Zealand

    Rupert Sutherland;Virginia G. Toy;John Townend;Simon C. Cox

  • Steady-State Failure Equilibrium and Deformation of Intraplate Lithosphere

    Mark D. Zoback;John Townend;Balz Grollimund

  • EQcorrscan: Repeating and Near‐Repeating Earthquake Detection and Analysis in Python

    Calum J. Chamberlain;Chet J. Hopp;Carolin M. Boese;Emily Warren‐Smith

  • Microseismicity but no tremor accompanying slow slip in the Hikurangi subduction zone, New Zealand

    E.J. Delahaye;J. Townend;M.E. Reyners;G. Rogers

  • Implications of earthquake focal mechanisms for the frictional strength of the San Andreas fault system

    John Townend;Mark D. Zoback

  • Stress and crustal anisotropy in Marlborough, New Zealand: evidence for low fault strength and structure‐controlled anisotropy

    N. J. Balfour;M. K. Savage;J. Townend

  • Three-dimensional variations in present-day tectonic stress along the Australia-Pacific plate boundary in New Zealand

    John Townend;Steven Sherburn;Richard Arnold;Carolin Boese

  • A Bayesian approach to estimating tectonic stress from seismological data

    Richard Arnold;John Townend

  • Tectonic tremor and deep slow slip on the Alpine Fault

    A. G. Wech;C. M. Boese;T. A. Stern;J. Townend

  • Drilling reveals fluid control on architecture and rupture of the Alpine Fault, New Zealand

    R. Sutherland;V. G. Toy;J. Townend;S. Cox

Frequent Co-Authors

Rupert Sutherland
Rupert Sutherland Victoria University of Wellington
Martha K. Savage
Martha K. Savage Victoria University of Wellington
Virginia Toy
Virginia Toy Johannes Gutenberg University of Mainz
Tim Stern
Tim Stern Victoria University of Wellington
Clifford H. Thurber
Clifford H. Thurber University of Wisconsin–Madison
Daniel R. Faulkner
Daniel R. Faulkner University of Liverpool
Timothy A. Little
Timothy A. Little Victoria University of Wellington
Richard J. Norris
Richard J. Norris University of Otago
Brett M. Carpenter
Brett M. Carpenter University of Oklahoma

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

Exploring Earth Science through online education opens doors to diverse career pathways, often complementing other fields such as digital media and language studies. For those interested in creative applications within environmental contexts, programs like the cheapest online photography degree provide an affordable route to mastering visual storytelling, which is valuable for documenting scientific research and fieldwork.

Veterans seeking to transition into environmental or related fields may find specialized support through tailored programs. For instance, an online photography bachelor degree for veterans can enhance technical and artistic skills applicable to Earth Science careers, such as geospatial imaging or environmental journalism.

Language proficiency also plays a significant role in global environmental studies. Pursuing an spanish degree online can boost communication abilities for working in Spanish-speaking regions, vital for international research and collaboration.

Moreover, veterans interested in linguistic versatility may benefit from the best online spanish degree programs for veterans, which offer veteran-focused resources and flexible learning options. Combining Earth Science with diverse skill sets enhances job prospects and prepares graduates for interdisciplinary careers.

Best Scientists Citing John Townend

Trending Scientists