Directory Information for James A. Thompson

Specialty: Natural Resource Management & Land Use Planning

The objective of my research program is to better understand and represent the relationships between soils and landscapes, both through field investigations of soil genetic relationships and through spatial analysis of geographic data. There are three fundamental questions that guide this research: (i) How and why do soils vary across the landscape, particularly at different scales? (ii) How can we measure and model this variability? (iii) How does this variability affect land use decision-making and environmental quality?

My current research focuses on quantifying and predicting soil variability at the landscape scale. One ongoing project examines soil carbon storage and dynamics in forested watersheds through measurement and modeling of organic carbon content and soil respiration rates. Results of this work will aid in our understanding of conditions that promote carbon sequestration and help us identify land predisposed for greater carbon accumulation. A second effort is directed toward developing soil-landscape models that can predict the spatial patterns of topsoil thickness, organic matter content, and clay content within agricultural fields. This work will provide producers with a means to quickly and easily assess the nature of soil variability in their fields and divide fields into meaningful management zones.

Publications:

1. Academic
   1. Publications
      1. Books or Book Chapters
         • King, L.D., H.J. Kleiss and J.A. Thompson. 2004. SSC 200 Soil Science Laboratory Manual. Tavenner Publishing Company, Anderson, South Carolina. 221 p.
2. Research
   1. Publications
      1. Refereed Journals
         • Anderson, E., Austin. R., Thompson, J., LiDAR Data Density and Linear Interpolator Influence On Elevation Prediction Estimates, ISPRS Journal of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing, in review.
         • Anderson, E., Austin. R., Thompson, J., Crouse, D., Compilation and Error Analysis of a LiDAR-based Digital Elevation Model for the Hofmann Forest, American Society of Agronomy Poster, Denver, Colorado, Nov. 2 - 6, 2003.
         • Thompson, J., Austin. R., Terrain Analysis at Multiple Scales: Effects on Terrain Attribute Calculation and Soil-Landscape, American Society of Agronomy Poster, Denver, Colorado, Nov. 2 - 6, 2003.
         • Thompson, J. A., J. C. Bell, and C. A. Butler. 2001. Digital elevation model resolution: Effects on terrain attribute calculation and quantitative soil-landscape modeling. Geoderma, 100:67-89.
         • Reich, R. C., M. R. Tucker, and C. E. Stokes. 2000. History of Soil Testing in North Carolina. Poster no. 807. American Society of Agronomy annual meeting, Nov. 5-9. Minneapolis, MN.
         • Wheeler, D. W., J. A. Thompson, and J. C. Bell. 1999. A laboratory comparison of soil redox conditions between red soils and brown soils in Minnesota, USA. Wetlands, 19:607-616
         • Thompson, J. A. and J. C. Bell. 1998. Hydric conditions and hydromorphic properties within a Mollisol catena in southeastern Minnesota. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J., 62:1116-1125.
         • Thompson, J. A., J. C. Bell, and C. W. Zanner. 1998. Hydrology and hydric soil extent within a Mollisol catena in southeastern Minnesota. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J., 62:1126-1133.
         • Thompson, J. A., J. C. Bell, and C. A. Butler. 1997. Quantitative soil-landscape modeling for estimating the areal extent of hydromorphic soils. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J., 61:971-980
         • Thompson, J. A. and J. C. Bell. 1996. A color index for identifying hydric soil conditions in seasonally-saturated Mollisols. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J., 60:1979-1988.