Thomas J. Owens

As the "Leader of the Pack" for this research program, I'm fortunate to have assembled a talented cadre of seismologists, programmers, and educators who make our projects successful. My primary interests include: The collection and analysis of seismological data in order to better understand the structure and evolution of the continental lithosphere; K-12 Science Education, in particular the use of seismological data, especially real-time data, to help get students interested in science; in addition, I am an vocal advocate for the modernization of seismological software. Finally, I am currently serving as Chair of the Department of Geological Sciences.

The publication list below is partial, limited to those we have referenced since we started this new website layout. It will eventually expand to include all my 50+ publications.

Funding History

Most of my funding is from the National Science Foundation. I have been the Principal Investigator or Co-Principal Investigator on 28 federally-funded grants, 1 state-funded grant and 2 privately-funded grants since 1985. Total awarded funding exceeds $4.6 million. Two pending proposals exceed $1,300,000.

Publications

  • I.D. Bastow, T.J. Owens, G. Helffrich, and J.H. Knapp. Spatial and temporal constraints on sources of seismic anisotropy: Evidence from the Scottish Highlands. Geophys. Res. Lett., 34:doi: 10.1029/2006GL028911, 2007.
  • H.P. Crotwell and T.J. Owens. Automated estimation of bulk crustal properties using USArray data. IRIS Newsletter, 3:4–5, 2006.
  • M.H. Benoit, A.A. Nyblade, T.J. Owens, and G. Stuart. Mantle transition zone structure and upper mantle S velocity variations beneath Ethiopia: Evidence for a broad, deep-seated thermal anomaly. Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems, 7:11013–+, 2006. (doi:10.1029/2006GC001398)
  • H.P. Crotwell and T.J. Owens. Automated receiver function processing. Seismological Research Letters, 76:702–708, 2005.
  • T. J. Owens, H. P. Crotwell, C. Groves, and P. Oliver-Paul. SOD: Standing Order for Data. Seismological Research Letters, 75:515–520, 2004.
  • K.T. Walker, A.A. Nyblade, S.L. Klemperer, G.H.R. Bokelmann, and T.J. Owens. On the relationship between extension and anisotropy: Constraints from shear wave splitting across the East African Plateau. J. Geophys. Res., 109(B083202):doi:10.1029/2003JB002866, 2004.
  • G. Zandt, H. Gilbert, T.J. Owens, M. Duceau, J. Saleeby, and C.H. Jones. Active foundering of a continental arc root beneath the southern Sierra Nevada in California. Nature, 43:41–46, 2004.
  • E. Asencio, J.H Knapp, T.J. Owens, and G. Helffrich. Mapping fine-scale heterogeneities within the continental mantle lithosphere beneath Scotland: Combining active and passive source seismology. Geology, 31:447–480, 2003.
  • A. Frassetto, T.J. Owens, and H.P. Crotwell. Electronic seismologist: Evaluating the Network Time Protocol (NTP) for timing in the South Carolina Earth Physics Project (SCEPP). Seismological Research Letters, 74:649–652, 2003.
  • C.A. Langston, A.A. Nyblade, and T.J. Owens. Regional wave propagation in Tanzania, East Africa. J. Geophys. Res., 107:1–1, 2002. (doi:10.1029/2001JB000167)
  • R.A. Brazier, A.A. Nyblade, C.A. Langston, and T.J. Owens. Pn wave velocities beneath the Tanzania craton and adjacent rifted mobile belts, East Africa. Geophys. Res. Lett., 27:2365–2368, 2000. (doi:10.1029/2000GL011586)
  • T.J. Owens, A.A Nyblade, and C.A. Langston. 410 and 660km discontinuity structure beneath Tanzania, East Africa. Geophys. Res. Lett., 142:615–619, 2000.
  • T.J. Owens, A.A. Nyblade, H. Gurrola, and C.A. Langston. Mantle transition zone structure beneath Tanzania, East Africa. Geophys. Res. Lett., 27:827–+s, 2000.
  • H. P. Crotwell, T.J. Owens, and J. Ritsema. The TauP Toolkit: Flexible seismic travel-time and ray-path utilities. Seismological Research Letters, 70:154–160, 1999.
  • M. Zhao, C.A. Langston, A.A. Nyblade, and T.J. Owens. Upper mantle velocity structure beneath southern Africa from modeling regional seismic data. J. Geophys. Res., 104:4783–4794, 1999. (doi:10.1029/1998JB900058)
  • J. Ritsema, A.A. Nyblade, T.J. Owens, C.A Langston, and J.C. VanDecar. Upper mantle seismic velocity structure beneath Tanzania, East Africa: implications for the stability of cratonic lithosphere. J. Geophys. Res., 103(B9):21201–21213, 1998.
  • D.E. McNamara, W.R. Walter, T.J. Owens, and C.J. Ammon. Upper mantle velocity structure beneath the Tibetan Plateau from Pn travel time tomography. J. Geophys. Res., 102:493–506, 1997. (doi:10.1029/96JB02112)
  • T.J. Owens and G. Zandt. Implications of crustal property variations for models of Tibetan plateau evolution. Nature, 387, 1997. (doi:10.1038/387037a0)
  • R.J. Last, A.A. Nyblade, C.A. Langston, and T.J. Owens. Crustal structure of the East African Plateau from receiver functions and Rayleigh wave phase velocities. J. Geophys. Res., 102:24469–24484, 1997. (doi:10.1029/97JB02156)
  • A.A. Nyblade, C. Birt, C.A. Langston, T.J. Owens, and R.J. Last. Seismic experiment reveals rifting of craton in Tanzania. EOS Transactions, 77:517–517, 1996. (doi:10.1029/96EO00339)
  • G.E. Randall, C.J. Ammon, and T.J. Owens. Moment tensor estimation using regional seismograms from a Tibetan plateau portable network deployment. Geophys. Res. Lett., 22:1665–1668, 1995. (doi:10.1029/95GL00909)
  • D.E. McNamara, T.J. Owens, and W.R. Walter. Observations of regional phase propagation across the Tibetan plateau. J. Geophys. Res., 100:22215–22230, 1995. (doi:10.1029/95JB01863)
  • D.E. McNamara, T.J. Owens, P.G. Silver, and F.T. Wu. Shear wave anisotropy beneath the Tibetan plateau. J. Geophys. Res., 99:13655–+, 1994.
  • D.E. McNamara and T.J. Owens. Azimuthal shear wave velocity anisotropy in the Basin and Range province using Moho Ps converted phases. J. Geophys. Res., 98:12003–+, 1993.
  • G.S. Wagner and T.J. Owens. Broadband bearing-time records of three-component seismic array data and their application to the study of local earthquake coda. Geophys. Res. Lett., 20:1823–1826, 1993.
  • K. Rajendran, M.E. Salvador, and T.J. Owens. Three dimensional p velocity image of the Oroville reservoir area, California, from local earthquake tomography. Geophys. Res. Lett., 20:1627–1630, 1993.
  • Thomas J. Owens, Robert S. Crosson, and Mathew A. Hendrickson. Constraints on the subduction geometry beneath Western Washington from broadband teleseismic waveform modeling. Bull., Seis. Soc. Am., 78(3):1319–1334, June 1988.
  • T.J. Owens. Crustal structure of the Adirondacks determined from broadband teleseismic waveform modeling. J. Geophys. Res., 92:6391–6402, 1987.
  • R.S. Crosson and T.J. Owens. Slab geometry of the Cascadia subduction zone beneath Washington from earthquake hypocenters and teleseismic converted waves. Geophys. Res. Lett., 14:824–827, 1987.
  • T.J. Owens and G. Zandt. The response of the continental crust-mantle boundary observed on broadband teleseismic receiver functions. Geophys. Res. Lett., 12:705–708, 1985.
  • T.J. Owens, G. Zandt, and S.R. Taylor. Seismic evidence for an ancient rift beneath the Cumberland plateau, Tennessee: A detailed analysis of broadband teleseismic p waveforms. J. Geophys. Res., 89:7783–7795, 1984.
  • T.J. Owens. Determination of crustal and upper mantle structure from analysis of broadband teleseismic P-waveforms. PhD thesis, Utah Univ., Salt Lake City., 1984.

Contact Information

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(803)777-4530
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(803)777-0906
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