John Thornley

OrganizationEmailAddressAnchorage , Alaska 99503United StatesBioI am a senior geotechnical engineer with more than 17 years of experience in earthquake and permafrost engineering. I am fortunate that those two overlap in Alaska for some very interesting projects. Along with the interesting projects I get to work on, I am also active in several different communities. Currently I am the President of the U.S. Permafrost Association (USPA), Chair of the Municipality of Anchorage Geotechnical Advisory Commission, Chair of the ASCE Cold Regions Engineering Division (CRED) Structures & Foundations Committee, and an active member of the Earthquake Engineering Research Institute.

One of the unique challenges I see facing the Arctic is the potential to develop seismic hazards as the permafrost degrades. This is an area of significant interest as we look at the effects of climate change on permafrost and some of the challenges in sustainable infrastructure, including the development of changes in earthquake site response at a site as a result.

Interests

Permafrost, Engineering

Science Specialties

Cold regions engineering, including permafrost and seasonally frozen ground. Work for public and private infrastructure.

Earthquake engineering, including cold regions site response.

Current Research

Engineering response to climactic impacts on permafrost
Seismic impacts at thawing permafrost sites