Erin Lysne

Laboratory: My objective is to lead the U.S. Geological Survey Cascades Volcano Observatory Sediment Laboratory to new heights. Devoting my life to this science is what drives me each day. The success and future of the Sediment Laboratory is my highest priority. I have extensive experience with laboratory procedures for sediment sample handling. Suspended sediment, soil, lahar, ash, bedload, bed material, loss on ignition, concentration, sand analysis, sand break/fine, and concentration sample processing. Use of particle size analysis test sieves, SediGraph, and RoTap. Quality Management System (QMS) implementation and completion with a continuation of standards within the lab environment. Bi-annual Sediment Lab Quality Assurance (SLQA) sample processing. The main highlight of my sediment lab work is the ongoing sediment monitoring of the Toutle River post-1980 eruption. Other notable projects include the dam removals along the lower Klamath Basin, processing samples from before, during, and after the dam removals were completed -monitoring released reservoir sediment load, concentration, and particle size. I participated in an international study for Mt. St. Helens tephra collaboration, where the CVO created the baseline of the entire study. I also perform facility tours, educational outreach, and interact with the media. One of the most fun parts of my position is to program, manage, and maintain the laboratory robot, SALI, that weighs the sediment samples and is a cornerstone of our quality assurance for sample handling.  

Field Work: My field experience includes work GNSS equipment. Including working with equipment used for GNSS base station construction, radio connection, and rover usage, with experience in both Emlid and Trimble equipment. Use of a Total Station with both reflector and reflectorless canyon profiling methods. Data collection for cross-section surveys, topo ground surveying, river profile study, and ongoing geomorphology studies. Including the annual Crater Glacier terminus surveys to measure, track, and study the behavior of the world’s only known advancing glacier.  I perform the water well level checks on the Spirit and Castle Lake blockages, to check sediment saturation levels as part of the ongoing public safety measures to protect communities downstream. I also assist the FEIT team with volcano monitoring equipment installations and maintenance.  

Further pursuits are to integrate GIS practices into physical sediment sampling of the Mt. St Helens blast zone, and to make intricate maps of the Crater Glacier’s mass, advancement, and large-scale impacts to the crater floor.