Biological Systems Engineering
College of Agricultural and Life Sciences

Anita Thompson

Position title: Professor and BSE Department Chair; Chair of Nelson Institute's Water Resources Management Program

Email: amthompson2@wisc.edu

Phone: (608) 262-0604

Address:
232B Agricultural Engineering Building
460 Henry Mall
Madison, WI 53706

headshot of anita thompson

Lab website – https://anitathompson.bse.wisc.edu/

Program Affiliations

  • Biological Systems Engineering
  • Institute for Environmental Studies
  • Environmental Chemistry and Technology

Education and Certificates

  • B.S. 1995 – Civil Engineering, University of Minnesota
  • M.S. 1997 – Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering, University of Minnesota
  • Ph.D. 2001 – Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering, University of Minnesota

Fields of Interest

  • Hydrologic implications of land use change
  • Urban hydrology and stormwater management
  • Water quality impacts of biofuel crop production
  • Cold regions hydrology
  • Hydrologic modeling
  • Sediment, nutrient and pathogen transport
  • Polyacrylamides and biosolids for fertilizer and erosion management

Teaching

  • BSE 473 Water Management Systems
  • BSE 571 Small Watershed Engineering
  • BSE 671 Special Topics in Natural Resources Engineering

Publications

  • Johnston, M., N. Balster, and A.M. Thompson. 2020. Vegetation alters soil water drainage and retention through soil antecedent moisture and porosity. Water. (In press)
  • Li, Y., E. Boswell, and A.M. Thompson. 2020. Correlations between land use and stream nitrate-nitrite concentrations in the Yahara River Watershed in south-central Wisconsin. Journal of Environmental Management. 278.
  •  Wang, Y., A.M. Thompson, and W. Selbig. 2020. Leachable phosphorus from senesced Green Ash and Norway Maple leaves in urban watersheds. Science of the Total Environment. 743(15) https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.140662
  •  Xiang J., A. Thompson, J. Lin, F. Jiang, H. Ge, M. Yu, Y. Huang. 2020. Modeling spatial distribution of rainfall infiltration amounts in South China using cellular automata and its relationship with the occurrence of collapsing gullies. Catena. 194 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.catena.2020.104676
  •  Boswell, E., A.M. Thompson, N.J. Balster, A. Bajcz. 2020. Novel determination of effective freeze-thaw cycles as drivers of ecosystem change. Journal of Environmental Quality. 49(2): 314-323 https://doi.org/10.1002/jeq2.20053
  •  Xiang J., A. Thompson, J. Lin, F. Jiang, S. Li, M. Yu, Y. Huang. 2019. Simulation and assessing the evolution of collapsing gullies evolution based on cellular automata-Markov and landscape pattern metrics: A case study in South China. Journal of Soils and Sediments. 19(7):3044-3055.
  •  Boswell, E., N.J. Balster, A. Bajcz, A.M. Thompson. 2019. Soil aggregation returns to a set point despite seasonal response to snow manipulation. Geoderma. 357 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoderma.2019.113954
  •  Zopp, Z., M. Ruark, A.M. Thompson, T. Stuntebeck, E. Cooley, A. Radatz, T. Radatz. 2019. Effects of manure and tillage on edge-of-field phosphorus loss in seasonally frozen landscapes. Journal of Environmental Quality. 48:966-977.
  •  Lamba, J., K.G. Karthikeyan, A.M. Thompson, K. Malhotra, N. Huisman, J. Panuska, G. Peaslee. 2019. Using atmospheric fallout radionuclides 137Cs and 210Pbxs to identify sources of suspended sediment in an agricultural watershed. Trans ASABE. 62(2):529-538.
  •  Stenjem, R., A.M. Thompson, K.G. Karthikeyan, B.J. Lepore, A. Kendall, D. Hyndman. 2019. Quantity and quality of water percolating below the root zone of three biofuel feedstock crop systems. Agricultural Water Management. 221:109-119.
  •  Parish, A., A. Kendall, A.M. Thompson, R. Stenjem, D. Hyndman. 2019. Cellulosic biofuel crops alter evapotranspiration and drainage fluxes: direct quantification using automated equilibrium tension lysimeters. GCB Bioenergy. 11(3):505-516.
  • Sattar, A., B. Gharabaghi, F. Sabouri, A.M. Thompson. 2017. Urban Stormwater Thermal Gene Expression Models for Protection of Sensitive Receiving Streams. Hydrologic Processes. In Press.
  • Singh, H., J.C. Panuska, A.M. Thompson. 2017. Estimating sediment delivery ratios for grassed waterways using WEPP. Land Degradation and Development. DOI: 10.1002/ldr.2727.
  • Singh, H., A.M. Thompson, B. Gharabaghi. 2017. Event runoff and sediment-yield neural networks models for assessment and design of management practices for small agricultural watersheds. Journal of Hydrologic Engineering. 22(2): doi:10.1061/(ASCE)HE.1943-5584.0001457
  • Zopp, Z., J.M. Olstadt, K.G. Karthikeyan, A.M. Thompson, S. Long. 2016. Cryptosporidium Soil Extraction by Filtration/IMS/FA Compatible with USEPA Method 1623.1. Agricultural & Environmental Letters. doi:10.2134/ael2016.08.0031
  • Lamba, J., A.M. Thompson, K.G. Karthikeyan, J. Panuska, and L. Good. 2016. Effect of best management practice implementation on sediment and phosphorus load reductions at subwatershed and watershed scale using SWAT model. International Journal of Sediment Research. 31(4):386–394. doi:10.1016/j.ijsrc.2016.06.004
  • Sabouri, F., B. Gharabaghi, A. Sattar, A.M. Thompson. 2016. Event-Based Stormwater Management Pond Runoff Temperature Model. Journal of Hydrology. 540:306-316. doi:10.1016/j.jhydrol.2016.06.017.
  • Mailapalli, D.R., and A.M. Thompson. 2016. Effect of Polyacrylamide Coated Biosolid on Phosphorus Movement in Soil-Plant-Water System. Journal of Solid Waste Technology and Management. 42(4):260-271
  • Zopp, Z., A.M. Thompson, K.G. Karthikeyan, F. Madison, S. Long. 2016. Subsurface transport of Cryoptosporidium in soils of Wisconsin’s carbonate aquifer region. Journal of Environmental Quality. 45(5):1607-1615
  • Singh, H. and A.M. Thompson. 2015. Effect of antecedent soil moisture content on soil critical shear stress in agricultural watersheds. Geoderma. 262:165-173
  • Lamba, J., A.M. Thompson, K.G. Karthikeyan, and F. A. Fitzpatrick. 2015. Sources of fine sediment stored in agricultural lowland streams, Midwest, USA. Geomorphology. 236:44-53.
  • Lamba, J., K.G. Karthikeyan, and A.M. Thompson. 2015. Using radiometric fingerprinting and phosphorus to elucidate sediment transport dynamics in an agricultural watershed. Hydrological Processes. 29(12):2681-2693.
  • Lamba, J., K.G. Karthikeyan, and A.M. Thompson. 2015. Apportionment of suspended sediment sources in an agricultural watershed using sediment fingerprinting. Geoderma. 239-240: 25-33.
  • Prellwitz, S. and A.M. Thompson. 2014. Biota and hydrology influence soil stability in constructed wetlands. Ecological Engineering. 64:360-366.
  • Doherty, J., J. Miller, S. Prellwitz, A.M. Thompson, S. Loheide, and J. Zedler. 2014. Bundles and tradeoffs among six wetland services were associated with hydrologic regime. Ecosystems. 17(6): 1026-1039, DOI: 10.1007/s10021-014-9775-3.
  • Radatz, T.F., A.M. Thompson, and F. Madison. 2013. Soil moisture and rainfall intensity thresholds for       runoff generation in southwestern Wisconsin agricultural basins. Journal of Hydrological Processes.       27:3521-3534.
  • Huisman, N.L.H., K.G. Karthikeyan, J. Lamba, A.M. Thompson and G. Peaslee. 2013. Quantification of seasonal sediment and phosphorus transport dynamics in an agricultural watershed using radiometric fingerprinting techniques. Journal of Soils and Sediment. 13(10):1724-1734
  • Mailapalli, D.R. and A.M. Thompson. 2012. Nitrogen leaching from Saybrook soil amended with biosolid and polyacrylamide. Journal of Water Resources and Protection. 4(11): 968-979.
  • Mailapalli, D. and A.M. Thompson. 2011.  Sediment and phosphorus loads in runoff and leachate using polyacrylamide coated MilorganiteTM and gypsum. Agricultural Water Management. 101:27-34.
  • Nimmer, M., A.M. Thompson, and D. Misra. 2010. Modeling water table mounding and contaminant transport beneath stormwater infiltration basins. ASCE Journal of Hydrologic Engineering. 15(12):963-973.
  • D’Cunha, N.J., D. Misra, and A.M. Thompson. 2009. Experimental investigation of the applications of natural freezing and Curdlan biopolymer for permeability modification to remediate DNAPL contaminated aquifers in Alaska. Cold Regions Science and Technology. 59(1):42-50.
  • Lepore, B., A.M. Thompson, and A.L. Petersen. 2009. Impact of polyacrylamide delivery method with lime and gypsum for soil and nutrient stabilization. Journal of Soil and Water Conservation. 64(3):223-231.
  • Misra, D., T. Oommen, A. Agarwal, S. Mishra, and A.M. Thompson. 2009. Application and analysis of support vector machine based simulation for runoff and sediment yield. Biosystems Engineering. 103:527-535.
  • Mueller, G. and A.M. Thompson. 2009. The ability of urban residential lawns to disconnect impervious area from municipal sewer systems. Journal of the American Water Resources Association. 45(5):1116-1126.
  • Nimmer, M., A.M. Thompson, and D. Misra. 2009. Water table mounding beneath stormwater infiltration basins. Journal of Environmental and Engineering Geoscience. 15:67-79.
  • Thompson, A.M. M. Nimmer and D. Misra. 2009. Effects of variations in hydrogeological parameters on water-table mounding in sandy loam and loamy sand soils beneath stormwater infiltration basins. Hydrogeology Journal. 18(2):501-508.
  • Kim, K., A.M Thompson, and G. Botter. 2008. Modeling of thermal runoff response from an asphalt-paved plot in the framework of the mass response functions. Water Resources Research. 44, W11405, doi:10.1029/2007WR005993.
  • Thompson, A.M., K. Kim, and A.J. Vandermuss. 2008. Thermal characteristics of stormwater runoff from asphalt and sod surfaces. Journal of the American Water Resources Association. 44(5):1325-1336.
  • Thompson, A.M., A.J. Vandermuss, J.M. Norman, and A. Roa-Espinosa. 2008. Modeling the effect of a rock crib on reducing stormwater runoff temperature. Transactions of the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers. 51(3):947-960.
  •  Thompson, A.M., T. Wilson, J. Norman, A. Gemechu, and A. Roa-Espinosa. 2008. Modeling the effect of summertime heating on urban runoff temperature. Journal of the American Water Resources Association. 44(6):1548-1563.
  • Thompson, A.M., A.C. Paul, and N.J. Balster. 2008. Physical and hydraulic properties of engineered soil media for bioretention basins. Transactions of the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers. 51(2):499-514.
  • Petersen, A.L., A.M. Thompson, C. Baxter, J. Norman, A. Roa-Espinosa. 2007. A new polyacrylamide formulation for reducing erosion and phosphorus loss in rain-fed agricultural. Transactions of the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers. 50(6):2091-2101.
  • Steinke, K., J.C. Stier, W.R. Kussow, and A.M. Thompson. 2007. Prairie and turf buffer strips for controlling runoff from paved surfaces. Journal of Environmental Quality. 36(2):426-439.
  • Shrestha, R., A.M. Thompson, and A. Roa-Espinosa. 2006. The effectiveness of polymers and additives on reducing suspended sediment. J. Soil and Water Conservation. 61(3): 169-177.
  • Thompson, A.M. and B.N. Wilson. 2004. Calibration accuracy for a constant temperature thermal anemometer. Journal of Hydraulic Engineering. 130(8):833-836.
  • Thompson, A.M., B.N. Wilson, and B.J. Hansen. 2004. Shear stress partitioning for idealized vegetated surfaces. Transactions of the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers. 47(3):701-709.
  •  Kumar, K., A.M. Thompson, A.K. Singh, Y. Chander, and S.C. Gupta. 2004. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for ultratrace determination of antibiotics in aqueous samples. Journal of Environmental Quality. 33(1):250-256.
  • Thompson, A.M., B.N. Wilson, and T. Hustrulid. 2003. Instrumentation to measure drag on idealized vegetal elements in overland flow. Transactions of the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers. 46(2):295-302.
  • Peer-Reviewed Book Chapters:
  • Misra, D., R.P. Daanen, and A. Thompson, 2011. Baseflow/Groundwater Flow, Encyclopedia of Snow, Ice, and Glaciers, Edited by U.K. Haritashya, V. Singh, and P. Singh, Springer Press, Part 2, 90 – 93.
  • Misra, D., R.P. Daanen, and A. Thompson, 2011. Discharge/Streamflow, Encyclopedia of Snow, Ice, and Glaciers, Edited by U.K. Haritashya, V. Singh, and P. Singh, Springer Press, Part 4, 234 – 236.
  • Daanen, R.P., D. Misra, and A. Thompson, 2011. Frozen Soil Hydrology, Encyclopedia of Snow, Ice, and Glaciers, Edited by U.K. Haritashya, V. Singh, and P. Singh, Springer Press, Part 6, 306 – 311.
  • Daanen, R.P., D. Misra, and A. Thompson, 2011. Hydrologic Cycle and Snow, Encyclopedia of Snow, Ice, and Glaciers, Edited by U.K. Haritashya, V. Singh, and P. Singh, Springer Press, Part 8, 538 – 541.
  • Thompson, A., D. Misra, and R.P. Daanen, 2011. Runoff Generation, Encyclopedia of Snow, Ice, and Glaciers, Edited by U.K. Haritashya, V. Singh, and P. Singh, Springer Press, Part 17, 953 – 955.
  • Thompson, A., D. Misra, and R.P. Daanen, 2011. Runoff Observations, Encyclopedia of Snow, Ice, and Glaciers, Edited by U.K. Haritashya, V. Singh, and P. Singh, Springer Press, Part 17, 955 – 857.
  • Misra, D., R.P. Daanen, and A. Thompson, 2011. Thermokarst, Encyclopedia of Snow, Ice, and Glaciers, Edited by U.K. Haritashya, V. Singh, and P. Singh, Springer Press, Part 19, 1158 – 1166.
  • Steinke, K., J.C. Stier, A.M. Thompson, and W.R. Kussow. 2007. Chapter 9. Sediment and nutrient losses from prairie and turfgrass buffer strips during establishment. In M. Nett, A.M. Petrovic, M.J. Carroll, and B.P. Hogan. The Fate of Turfgrass Nutrients and Plant Protection Chemicals in the Urban Environment. ACS Books/Oxford University Press.