World's Best Scientists 2026 revealed!

D-Index & Metrics

Earth Science

D-Index
88
Citations
29058
World Ranking
302
National Ranking
160

Thorne Lay 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 Thorne Lay 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: 453 publications — 96th percentile

96% of scientists in this discipline score the same or lower.

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

Thorne Lay 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 Thorne Lay 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: 88 D-Index — 97th percentile

97% 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

  • 2014 - Member of the National Academy of Sciences
  • 2009 - Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)
  • 2008 - Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences
  • 1991 - James B. Macelwane Medal, American Geophysical Union (AGU)
  • 1991 - Fellow of American Geophysical Union (AGU)
  • 1985 - Fellow of Alfred P. Sloan Foundation

Overview

Thorne Lay is affiliated with the University of California, Santa Cruz in the United States and specializes primarily in Earth and Planetary Sciences, with a strong focus on Geophysics. Their body of work spans several key subfields including Geophysics, Artificial Intelligence, Ocean Engineering, Atmospheric Science, and Geology.

Their research topics encompass diverse aspects of earthquake and tectonic studies, high-pressure geophysics and materials, geological and geochemical analysis, earthquake detection and analysis, seismic waves and analysis, seismology and earthquake studies, and geophysics and sensor technology.

Thorne Lay's frequent coauthors include Charles J. Ammon, A. A. Velasco, Terry C. Wallace, Lingling Ye, and Kwok Fai Cheung.

Their recent significant papers include:

  • "Complex multi-fault rupture and triggering during the 2023 earthquake doublet in southeastern Türkiye" (2023) published in Nature Communications
  • "The 22 December 2018 tsunami from flank collapse of Anak Krakatau volcano during eruption" (2020) published in Science Advances
  • "What Controls Variations in Aftershock Productivity?" (2020) published in Journal of Geophysical Research Solid Earth
  • "Rupture of the 2020 MW 7.8 Earthquake in the Shumagin Gap Inferred From Seismic and Geodetic Observations" (2020) published in Geophysical Research Letters
  • "The 22 July 2020 M 7.8 Shumagin seismic gap earthquake: Partial rupture of a weakly coupled megathrust" (2021) published in Earth and Planetary Science Letters

The venues where Thorne Lay frequently publishes include the Journal of Geophysical Research Solid Earth, Seismological Research Letters, Earth and Planetary Science Letters, Geophysical Research Letters, and The Seismic Record.

The scientist has received various honors and recognitions such as being named a Member of the National Academy of Sciences in 2014, a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) in 2009, a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 2008, a Fellow of the American Geophysical Union (AGU) since 1991, and was awarded the James B. Macelwane Medal by AGU in 1991. Additionally, they were recognized as a Fellow of the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation in 1985.

Best Publications

  • Modern global seismology

    Thorne Lay;Terry C. Wallace

  • The great Sumatra-Andaman earthquake of 26 December 2004

    Thorne Lay;Thorne Lay;Hiroo Kanamori;Charles J. Ammon;Meredith Nettles

  • Rupture Process of the 2004 Sumatra-Andaman Earthquake

    Charles J. Ammon;Chen Ji;Hong-Kie Thio;David Robinson

  • Depth‐varying rupture properties of subduction zone megathrust faults

    Thorne Lay;Hiroo Kanamori;Charles J. Ammon;Keith D. Koper

  • Core–mantle boundary heat flow

    Thorne Lay;John Hernlund;Bruce A. Buffett

  • The core–mantle boundary layer and deep Earth dynamics

    Thorne Lay;Quentin Williams;Edward J. Garnero

  • The asperity model and the nature of large subduction zone earthquakes.

    Thorne Lay;Hiroo Kanamori;Larry Ruff

  • The core-mantle boundary region

    David E. Loper;Thorne Lay

  • A lower mantle S-wave triplication and the shear velocity structure of D"

    Thorne Lay;Donald V. Helmberger

  • Possible large near-trench slip during the 2011 M w 9.0 off the Pacific coast of Tohoku Earthquake

    Thorne Lay;Charles J. Ammon;Hiroo Kanamori;Lian Xue

  • Rigidity variations with depth along interplate megathrust faults in subduction zones

    Susan L. Bilek;Thorne Lay

  • An Asperity Model of Large Earthquake Sequences

    Thorne Lay;Hiroo Kanamori

  • A rupture model of the 2011 off the Pacific coast of Tohoku Earthquake

    Charles J. Ammon;Thorne Lay;Hiroo Kanamori;Michael Cleveland

  • A Post-Perovskite Lens and D'' Heat Flux Beneath the Central Pacific

    Thorne Lay;John Hernlund;Edward J. Garnero;Michael S. Thorne

  • The D″ Discontinuity and its Implications

    Michael E. Wysession;Thorne Lay;Justin Revenaugh;Quentin Williams

  • Teleseismic inversion for rupture process of the 27 February 2010 Chile (Mw 8.8) earthquake

    T. Lay;C. J. Ammon;H. Kanamori;K. D. Koper

  • Quantitative Seismology, Second Edition

    Thorne Lay

  • Analysis of Seismic Body Waves Excited by the Mount St. Helens Eruption of May 18, 1980

    Hiroo Kanamori;Jeffrey W. Given;Thorne Lay

  • Tsunami earthquakes possibly widespread manifestations of frictional conditional stability

    S. L. Bilek;T. Lay

  • En échelon and orthogonal fault ruptures of the 11 April 2012 great intraplate earthquakes

    Han Yue;Thorne Lay;Keith D. Koper

  • Supporting Online Material for A Post-Perovskite Lens and D" Heat Flux Beneath the Central Pacific

    Thorne Lay;John Hernlund;Edward J. Garnero;Michael S. Thorne

Frequent Co-Authors

Hiroo Kanamori
Hiroo Kanamori California Institute of Technology
Charles J. Ammon
Charles J. Ammon Pennsylvania State University
Edward J. Garnero
Edward J. Garnero Arizona State University
Kwok Fai Cheung
Kwok Fai Cheung University of Hawaii at Manoa
Keith D. Koper
Keith D. Koper University of Utah
Susan Y. Schwartz
Susan Y. Schwartz University of California, Santa Cruz
Luis Rivera
Luis Rivera University of Strasbourg
Emily E. Brodsky
Emily E. Brodsky University of California, Santa Cruz
Donald V. Helmberger
Donald V. Helmberger California Institute of Technology
Terry C. Wallace
Terry C. Wallace Los Alamos National Laboratory

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