Biography

I joined the Mountain Research Initiative in 2020 upon completion of my PhD in hydrogeology at the University of Neuchâtel, Switzerland. My doctoral research focussed on the interdisciplinary, physics-based numerical modelling of hydrological processes in complex Alpine terrain, and involved a wide range of datasets and computational tools. Prior to that, I worked in the reinsurance sector, where I was responsible for leading the development of natural catastrophe models in order to quantify the risks associated with extreme events such as floods and tropical cyclones. I currently coordinate and conduct research for GEO Mountains; an Initiative of the Group on Earth Observations (GEO) seeking to increase the availability and accessibility of a wide range of data pertaining to mountainous regions to benefit human societies and ecosystems globally. My 2022 paper "Simulating Fully-Integrated Hydrological Dynamics in Complex Alpine Headwaters: Potential and Challenges" received an Editors’ Choice Award from the journal Water Resources Research (WRR), indicating extremely high quality and significance.

Expertise

Research Type
Interdisciplinary Research
Methods
Earth Observations, Modeling, Remote Sensing, Spatial Analysis
Spatial Scale of Expertise
Global/Hemispheric, Local/Community, Regional
Time Scales
Decadal/Centennial, Seasonal/Annual
Statistical Focus
Extremes, Mean Change/Trends
Mountain Ranges of Research Expertise
European Alps
Mountain Ranges of Research Interest
Andes, Carpathian Mountains, Caucasus Mountains, Drakensberg Mountains, Eastern Arc Mountains, European Alps, Scottish Highlands
Participation in Assessments
IPCC

Disciplines

Cryospheric Sciences
Snow Sciences
Earth Sciences
Geology, Physical Geography
Hydrospheric Sciences
General Hydrospheric Sciences, Hydrogeology

Publications

Authors
Dirk S Schmeller, and James M Thornton, and Davnah Urbach, and Jake Alexander, and Walter Jetz, and Aino Kulonen, and Robert T E Mills, and Claudia Notornicola, and Elisa Palazzi, and Harald Pauli, and Christophe Randin, and Sergey Rosbakh, and Roger Sayre, and Nasrin Amini Tehrani, and William W M Verbiest, and Tom W N Walker, and Sonja Wipf, and Carolina Adler
Journal
BioScience
Publication Year
2024
External Reference
https://doi.org/10.1093/biosci/biae052

Authors
James M. Thornton
Journal
Nature Water
Publication Year
2024
External Reference
https://doi.org/10.1038/s44221-024-00243-4

Authors
van Tiel, Marit, and Aubry-Wake, Caroline, and Somers, Lauren, and Andermann, Christoff, and Avanzi, Francesco, and Baraer, Michel, and Chiogna, Gabriele, and Daigre, Clémence, and Das, Soumik, and Drenkhan, Fabian, and James M. Thornton, and others
Journal
Nature Water
Publication Year
2024
External Reference
https://doi.org/10.1038/s44221-024-00277-8

Authors
Thornton, J.M., and Pepin, N., and Shahgedanova, M., and Adler, C.
Journal
Frontiers in Climate
Publication Year
2022
External Reference
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Authors
James M. Thornton, and Mark A. Snethlage, and Roger Sayre, and Davnah R. Urbach, and Daniel Viviroli, and Daniele Ehrlich, and Veruska Muccione, and Philippus Wester, and Gregory Insarov, and Carolina Adler
Journal
PLOS ONE
Publication Year
2022
External Reference
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0271466

Authors
J. M. Thornton, and R. Therrien, and G. Mariéthoz, and N. Linde, and P. Brunner
Journal
Water Resources Research
Publication Year
2022
External Reference
https://doi.org/10.1029/2020WR029390

Authors
N. C. Pepin, and E. Arnone, and A. Gobiet, and K. Haslinger, and S. Kotlarski, and C. Notarnicola, and E. Palazzi, and P. Seibert, and S. Serafin, and W. Schöner, and S. Terzago, and J.M. Thornton, and M. Vuille, and C. Adler
Journal
Reviews of Geophysics
Publication Year
2022
External Reference
https://doi.org/10.1029/2020rg000730

Authors
Thornton, J.M., and Brauchli, T., and Mariethoz, G., and Brunner, P.
Journal
Journal of Hydrology
Publication Year
2021
External Reference
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2021.126241

Authors
James M. Thornton, and Elisa Palazzi, and Nicolas C. Pepin, and Paolo Cristofanelli, and Richard Essery, and Sven Kotlarski, and Gregory Giuliani, and Yaniss Guigoz, and Aino Kulonen, and David Pritchard, and Xiaofeng Li, and Hayley J. Fowler, and Christophe F. Randin, and Maria Shahgedanova, and Martin Steinbacher, and Marc Zebisch, and Carolina Adler
Journal
One Earth
Publication Year
2021
External Reference
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.oneear.2021.05.005

Authors
James M. Thornton
Journal
PhD Thesis
Publication Year
2020
External Reference
https://doi.org/10.35662/unine-thesis-2826

Authors
James M. Thornton, and Gregoire Mariethoz, and Philip Brunner
Journal
Scientific Data
Publication Year
2018
External Reference
https://doi.org/10.1038/sdata.2018.238

Map of Affiliations

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MRI Roles and Involvement

Role
Coordination Office Staff
Involvement
GEO Mountains