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.

The publication list below is partial.

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.

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

Office Phone:
(803)777-4530
Fax:
(803)777-0906
Email