World's Best Scientists 2026 revealed!
Sean D. Willett

Sean D. Willett

D-Index & Metrics

Earth Science

D-Index
58
Citations
15159
World Ranking
2127
National Ranking
60

Sean D. Willett 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 Sean D. Willett sits on this spectrum.

38–42 publications: 1 scientists 43–47 publications: 0 scientists 48–52 publications: 3 scientists 53–57 publications: 8 scientists 58–62 publications: 11 scientists 63–67 publications: 16 scientists 68–72 publications: 24 scientists 73–77 publications: 31 scientists 78–82 publications: 49 scientists 83–87 publications: 77 scientists 88–92 publications: 86 scientists 93–97 publications: 88 scientists 98–102 publications: 92 scientists 103–107 publications: 84 scientists 108–112 publications: 102 scientists 113–117 publications: 108 scientists 118–122 publications: 117 scientists 123–127 publications: 126 scientists 128–132 publications: 146 scientists 133–137 publications: 114 scientists 138–142 publications: 102 scientists 143–147 publications: 127 scientists 148–152 publications: 102 scientists 153–157 publications: 112 scientists 158–162 publications: 102 scientists 163–167 publications: 127 scientists 168–172 publications: 121 scientists 173–177 publications: 112 scientists 178–182 publications: 109 scientists 183–187 publications: 98 scientists 188–192 publications: 92 scientists 193–197 publications: 105 scientists 198–202 publications: 77 scientists 203–207 publications: 80 scientists 208–212 publications: 89 scientists 213–217 publications: 70 scientists 218–222 publications: 74 scientists 223–227 publications: 74 scientists 228–232 publications: 70 scientists 233–237 publications: 67 scientists 238–242 publications: 59 scientists 243–247 publications: 67 scientists 248–252 publications: 51 scientists 253–257 publications: 46 scientists 258–262 publications: 41 scientists 263–267 publications: 39 scientists 268–272 publications: 34 scientists 273–277 publications: 39 scientists 278–282 publications: 35 scientists 283–287 publications: 36 scientists 288–292 publications: 35 scientists 293–297 publications: 29 scientists 298–302 publications: 23 scientists 303–307 publications: 39 scientists 308–312 publications: 34 scientists 313–317 publications: 23 scientists 318–322 publications: 18 scientists 323–327 publications: 18 scientists 328–332 publications: 21 scientists 333–337 publications: 20 scientists 338–342 publications: 15 scientists 343–347 publications: 13 scientists 348–352 publications: 24 scientists 353–357 publications: 25 scientists 358–362 publications: 10 scientists 363–367 publications: 20 scientists 368–372 publications: 17 scientists 373–377 publications: 18 scientists 378–382 publications: 15 scientists 383–387 publications: 7 scientists 388–392 publications: 22 scientists 393–397 publications: 9 scientists 398–402 publications: 11 scientists 403–407 publications: 16 scientists 408–412 publications: 4 scientists 413–417 publications: 5 scientists 418–422 publications: 14 scientists 423–427 publications: 8 scientists 428–432 publications: 7 scientists 433–437 publications: 7 scientists 438–442 publications: 10 scientists 443–447 publications: 10 scientists 448–452 publications: 3 scientists 453–457 publications: 9 scientists 458–462 publications: 11 scientists 463–467 publications: 4 scientists 468–472 publications: 6 scientists 473–477 publications: 11 scientists 478–482 publications: 8 scientists 483–487 publications: 2 scientists 488–492 publications: 3 scientists 493–497 publications: 4 scientists 498–502 publications: 4 scientists 503–507 publications: 4 scientists 508–509 publications: 4 scientists 510+ publications: 100 scientists
38 publications 510+

This scientist: 210 publications — 64th percentile

64% of scientists in this discipline score the same or lower.

The last bar groups every scientist with 510 publications or more.

Sean D. Willett 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 Sean D. Willett sits on this spectrum.

30 D-Index: 15 scientists 31 D-Index: 42 scientists 32 D-Index: 60 scientists 33 D-Index: 90 scientists 34 D-Index: 103 scientists 35 D-Index: 108 scientists 36 D-Index: 142 scientists 37 D-Index: 147 scientists 38 D-Index: 147 scientists 39 D-Index: 152 scientists 40 D-Index: 143 scientists 41 D-Index: 157 scientists 42 D-Index: 141 scientists 43 D-Index: 151 scientists 44 D-Index: 140 scientists 45 D-Index: 135 scientists 46 D-Index: 121 scientists 47 D-Index: 108 scientists 48 D-Index: 128 scientists 49 D-Index: 111 scientists 50 D-Index: 106 scientists 51 D-Index: 112 scientists 52 D-Index: 102 scientists 53 D-Index: 103 scientists 54 D-Index: 94 scientists 55 D-Index: 61 scientists 56 D-Index: 101 scientists 57 D-Index: 71 scientists 58 D-Index: 65 scientists 59 D-Index: 78 scientists 60 D-Index: 93 scientists 61 D-Index: 56 scientists 62 D-Index: 58 scientists 63 D-Index: 52 scientists 64 D-Index: 63 scientists 65 D-Index: 49 scientists 66 D-Index: 53 scientists 67 D-Index: 57 scientists 68 D-Index: 50 scientists 69 D-Index: 44 scientists 70 D-Index: 44 scientists 71 D-Index: 31 scientists 72 D-Index: 33 scientists 73 D-Index: 33 scientists 74 D-Index: 23 scientists 75 D-Index: 32 scientists 76 D-Index: 24 scientists 77 D-Index: 17 scientists 78 D-Index: 19 scientists 79 D-Index: 9 scientists 80 D-Index: 21 scientists 81 D-Index: 20 scientists 82 D-Index: 17 scientists 83 D-Index: 19 scientists 84 D-Index: 19 scientists 85 D-Index: 14 scientists 86 D-Index: 6 scientists 87 D-Index: 14 scientists 88 D-Index: 17 scientists 89 D-Index: 10 scientists 90 D-Index: 8 scientists 91 D-Index: 8 scientists 92 D-Index: 9 scientists 93 D-Index: 6 scientists 94+ D-Index: 98 scientists
30 D-Index 94+

This scientist: 58 D-Index — 72nd percentile

72% of scientists in this discipline score the same or lower.

The last bar groups every scientist with 94 D-Index or more.

Research.com Recognitions

  • 2015 - Member of Academia Europaea

Overview

Sean D. Willett is affiliated with ETH Zurich in Switzerland and specializes in Earth and Planetary Sciences. Their research predominantly addresses areas within geophysics, atmospheric science, and earth-surface processes, with additional contributions to management, monitoring, policy and law, and geology.

The scientist's main topics of study cover a broad spectrum within geological and geophysical disciplines, including:

  • Geology and paleoclimatology research
  • Earthquake and tectonic studies
  • Geological formations and processes
  • Geological and geochemical analysis
  • Landslides and related hazards
  • Geological and geophysical studies
  • Geological and geophysical studies worldwide

Sean D. Willett's research output is disseminated through multiple established publication venues. Frequent venues for their work include:

  • Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
  • Earth and Planetary Science Letters
  • Earth Surface Dynamics
  • Journal of Geophysical Research Earth Surface
  • Earth Surface Processes and Landforms

Key recent publications by Sean D. Willett and collaborators are:

  • "Escarpment evolution drives the diversification of the Madagascar flora," 2024, Science
  • "Drainage basin dynamics during the transition from early to mature orogeny in Southern Taiwan," 2021, Earth and Planetary Science Letters
  • "Bias and error in modelling thermochronometric data: resolving a potential increase in Plio-Pleistocene erosion rate," 2021, Earth Surface Dynamics
  • "Controls on Physical and Chemical Denudation in a Mixed Carbonate-Siliciclastic Orogen," 2021, Journal of Geophysical Research Earth Surface
  • "Quaternary drainage network reorganization in the Colombian Eastern Cordillera plateau," 2020, Earth Surface Processes and Landforms

Collaborations have been an important component of their research activities, working frequently with co-authors including:

  • Yanyan Wang
  • Maria Giuditta Fellin
  • Marcus Christl
  • Datian Wu
  • Vincenzo Picotti

Sean D. Willett was recognized by membership in the Academia Europaea, awarded in 2015.

Best Publications

  • Links between erosion, runoff variability and seismicity in the Taiwan orogen

    Simon J. Dadson;Niels Hovius;Hongey Chen;W. Brian Dade

  • Orogeny and orography: The effects of erosion on the structure of mountain belts

    Sean D. Willett

  • Mechanical model for the tectonics of doubly vergent compressional orogens

    Sean Willett;Christopher Beaumont;Philippe Fullsack

  • Dynamic reorganization of river basins.

    Sean D. Willett;Scott W. McCoy;Scott W. McCoy;J. Taylor Perron;Liran Goren

  • On steady states in mountain belts

    Sean D. Willett;Mark T. Brandon

  • Climate, tectonics, and the morphology of the Andes

    David R. Montgomery;Greg Balco;Sean D. Willett

  • Worldwide acceleration of mountain erosion under a cooling climate

    Frédéric Herman;Diane Seward;Pierre G. Valla;Andrew Carter

  • A very efficient O(n), implicit and parallel method to solve the stream power equation governing fluvial incision and landscape evolution

    Jean Braun;Sean D. Willett

  • In situ low-relief landscape formation as a result of river network disruption.

    Rong Yang;Sean D. Willett;Liran Goren

  • Uplift, shortening,and steady state topography in active mountain belts

    Sean D. Willett;Rudy Slingerland;Niels Hovius

  • Subduction of Asian lithospheric mantle beneath Tibet inferred from models of continental collision

    Sean D. Willett;Christopher Beaumont

  • Erosion rates and orogenic-wedge kinematics in Taiwan inferred from fission-track thermochronometry

    Sean D. Willett;Donald Fisher;Christopher Fuller;Yeh En-Chao

  • Tectonics from fluvial topography using formal linear inversion: Theory and applications to the Inyo Mountains, California

    L. Goren;L. Goren;Matthew Fox;Matthew Fox;Matthew Fox;Sean D. Willett

  • Exhumation processes

    Unknown

  • Computational Tools for Low-Temperature Thermochronometer Interpretation

    Todd A. Ehlers;Tehmasp Chaudhri;Santosh Kumar;Chris W. Fuller

  • Messinian climate change and erosional destruction of the central European Alps

    Sean D. Willett;Fritz Schlunegger;Vincenzo Picotti

  • Coupled numerical–analytical approach to landscape evolution modeling

    Liran Goren;Sean D. Willett;Frédéric Herman;Jean Braun

  • Formation of forearc basins and their influence on subduction zone earthquakes

    Christopher W. Fuller;Sean D. Willett;Mark T. Brandon

  • A thermomechanical wedge model of Taiwan constrained by fission-track thermochronometry

    C.W. Fuller;S.D. Willett;D. Fisher;C.Y. Lu

  • Dynamic and kinematic growth and change of a Coulomb wedge

    Sean D. Willett

  • Quantitative testing of bedrock incision models for the Clearwater River, NW Washington State

    Jonathan H. Tomkin;Mark T. Brandon;Frank J. Pazzaglia;Jonathan R. Barbour

  • Oxygen isotopic transport and exchange during fluid flow; one-dimensional models and applications

    John R. Bowman;Sean D. Willett;Stephen J. Cook

  • Present-day uplift of the European Alps: Evaluating mechanisms and models of their relative contributions

    Pietro Sternai;Christian Sue;Laurent Husson;Enrico Serpelloni

Frequent Co-Authors

Frédéric Herman
Frédéric Herman University of Lausanne
Christopher Beaumont
Christopher Beaumont Dalhousie University
Giovanni Bertotti
Giovanni Bertotti Delft University of Technology
Taras Gerya
Taras Gerya ETH Zurich
Michael Strasser
Michael Strasser University of Innsbruck
Marcus Christl
Marcus Christl ETH Zurich
Niels Hovius
Niels Hovius University of Potsdam
Claudio Faccenna
Claudio Faccenna Dresdner Grundwasserforschungszentrum
Mark T. Brandon
Mark T. Brandon Yale University
Jean Braun
Jean Braun University of Potsdam

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