Kendra J. Lynn, Ph.D.
My research leverages petrology and geochemistry to investigate the timescales of geologic processes operating in Earth’s mantle and volcanic systems – from the generation of magma during melting to its eruption. Understanding the timing and duration of magma storage and transport is critical for constraining the dynamic evolution of our planet and volcanic eruption scenarios.
A bit more about me: I am a first-generation college student who grew up in a small farm town in rural Minnesota and I have always loved volcanoes. As an undergraduate student at Winona State University, I did two senior thesis projects: one on soil chemistry for an organic farm and the second on structural geology and metamorphic petrology of a shear zone in Maine.
Professional Experience
CONVERSE H-SAC (Community Network for Volcanic Eruption Response Hawai'i Scientific Advisory Committee, HVO Representative), Volcano Science Center Seminar Series Committee (HVO Representative)
Research Geologist, US Geological Survey Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (2020-present) - Petrologic and geochemical studies of Hawaiian volcanoes
Postdoctoral Researcher, Department of Earth Sciences, University of Delaware (2017-2020) - Aqueous fluid-rock and silicate melt-rock interactions that re-equilibrate hydrogen in peridotite nominally anhydrous minerals; high temperature hydrothermal alteration in Gakkel Ridge abyssal peridotites
Research Associate, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution (2017-2020) - Redox and source heterogeneity of the arctic Gakkel Ridge
Research Fellow, East Asia and Pacific Summer Institutes, Earth Observatory of Singapore, Nanyang Technological University (2015) - Investigating magma ascent rate and eruption style at Kīlauea Volcano using diffusion modeling of element zoning in olivine crystals
Research Assistant, Department of Geology and Geophysics, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa (2012-2017) - Compositional Zoning in Kīlauea Olivine: A geochemical tool for investigating magmatic processes at Hawaiian Volcanoes
Education and Certifications
University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, Ph.D. (2017) - Geology and Geophysics
University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, M.S. en route (2015) - Geology and Geophysics
Winona State University, B.S. (2012) - Geology
Affiliations and Memberships*
American Geophysical Union
Geological Society of America
Mineralogical Society of America
Earth Science Women's Network
Honors and Awards
PI, Evaluating the causes of protracted explosive eruptions at Kīlauea Volcano, Hawai‘i, National Science Foundation, EAR-1939964 ($255,595). Co-PI Jessica M. Warren
Abstracts and Presentations
Selected Conference Presentations
2021 (Invited, Session Keynote) - Lynn, K.J. Big changes at Kilauea Volcano: The impact of 2018 summit collapse on magmatic processes recorded by the 2020 eruption. Geological Society of America Annual Meeting, Abstracts with Programs, 53(6), doi: 10.1130/abs/2021AM-366992.
2020 (Invited, Early Career Innovative Session on Petrology and Volcanism) - Lynn, K.J., Swanson, D.A., Rose, T., Trusdell, F.A. Leveraging geochemistry and petrology to explore the origins of explosive vs. effusive eruptive periods at Kīlauea Volcano (HI). Abstract INV10d-0003, AGU Virtual Fall Meeting.
2020 (Invited) - Lynn, K.J., Rose, T., Swanson, D.A. Olivine and glass chemistry record cycles of plumbing system evolution after summit collapse at Kīlauea Volcano, Hawai‘i. Virtual Goldschmidt Conference. doi: 10.46427/gold2020.1670.
2019 (Invited) - Lynn, K.J., Garcia, M.O., Shea, T. Phosphorus coupling obfuscates lithium geospeedometry in olivine. Abstract V43A-06, AGU Fall Meeting, San Francisco, CA.
Science and Products
Filter Total Items: 13
Sample details and compositional data collected during episodes 1–39 (2024-2025) of the 2024-ongoing episodic Halema‘uma‘u eruption of Kīlauea, Island of Hawaiʻi Sample details and compositional data collected during episodes 1–39 (2024-2025) of the 2024-ongoing episodic Halema‘uma‘u eruption of Kīlauea, Island of Hawaiʻi
Samples for episodes 1–39 (2024-2025) of the 2024-ongoing episodic Halema‘uma‘u Kīlauea eruption were collected by the U.S. Geological Survey’s Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO) field teams from within publicly closed areas of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park in cooperation with the National Park Service. This data release presents sample metadata, whole rock ED-XRF, whole rock WD-XRF...
Sample details and compositional data collected during the 2024 Southwest Rift Zone and middle East Rift Zone eruptions of Kīlauea, Island of Hawaiʻi Sample details and compositional data collected during the 2024 Southwest Rift Zone and middle East Rift Zone eruptions of Kīlauea, Island of Hawaiʻi
Samples for the 2024 Kīlauea eruptions in the Southwest Rift Zone and middle East Rift Zone were collected by the U.S. Geological Survey’s Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO) field teams from within publicly closed areas of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park in cooperation with the National Park Service. This data release presents sample metadata, whole rock ED-XRF, whole rock WD-XRF, whole...
Physical volcanology data and measurements (grain size, grain shape, thickness, maximum clast size, ballistic block size, and componentry) from the May 11–27, 1924 tephra deposits of Halemaʻumaʻu crater, Kīlauea volcano, Island of Hawaiʻi Physical volcanology data and measurements (grain size, grain shape, thickness, maximum clast size, ballistic block size, and componentry) from the May 11–27, 1924 tephra deposits of Halemaʻumaʻu crater, Kīlauea volcano, Island of Hawaiʻi
Over 16 days from May 11–27, 1924, there were more than 50 explosions from Halemaʻumaʻu crater at Kīlauea volcano on the Island of Hawaiʻi. These explosions ejected blocks weighing >12,000 kg, as well as extremely fine ash to lapilli size tephra. The greatest thicknesses of tephra were at the summit region of Kīlauea, but some tephra fell on Wood Valley, Pāhala, and Waiʻōhinu to the...
Olivine core and rim electron microprobe analyses for the January-March 2023 Halema‘uma‘u eruption of Kīlauea Olivine core and rim electron microprobe analyses for the January-March 2023 Halema‘uma‘u eruption of Kīlauea
The January-March 2023 Halema‘uma‘u eruption occurred within Kaluapele (Kīlauea’s summit caldera) beginning on January 5 and ending on March 7 (Mulliken et al. 2024). This eruption reoccupied a previously active vent in the western side of the lava lake, as well as opening additional new vents on the eastern side of the lake. Field crews from the U.S. Geological Survey’s Hawaiian Volcano
Olivine core and rim electron microprobe analyses for the September 2023 Halema‘uma‘u eruption of Kīlauea, Island of Hawai‘i Olivine core and rim electron microprobe analyses for the September 2023 Halema‘uma‘u eruption of Kīlauea, Island of Hawai‘i
The September 2023 Halema‘uma‘u eruption began on September 10 and ended on September 16 (~1 week; Mulliken et al. 2024). Field crews from the U.S. Geological Survey’s Hawaiian Volcano Observatory collected tephra samples from fissures that had opened up on an area of the caldera floor east of Halema‘uma‘u crater (see Lynn et al. 2024 for map). Air quenched spatter and tephra samples...
Olivine core and rim electron microprobe analyses for the June 2023 Halema‘uma‘u eruption of Kīlauea, Island of Hawai‘i Olivine core and rim electron microprobe analyses for the June 2023 Halema‘uma‘u eruption of Kīlauea, Island of Hawai‘i
The June 2023 Halema‘uma‘u eruption began on June 7 and ended on June 19 (~2 weeks; Mulliken et al. 2024). Field crews from the U.S. Geological Survey’s Hawaiian Volcano Observatory collected frothy pumice clasts from initial high fountaining on 7 June 2023 from accessible regions southwest of Kaluapele (Kīlauea’s summit caldera). Samples were collected from within a publicly closed area...
Filter Total Items: 26
Spatial and temporal geochemical variations of lava flows and tephra deposits from the December 2020 to September 2024 eruptions of Kīlauea volcano Spatial and temporal geochemical variations of lava flows and tephra deposits from the December 2020 to September 2024 eruptions of Kīlauea volcano
Kīlauea volcano underwent dramatic morphological changes in 2018. That year recorded the end of the 35-year-long eruption of Puʻuʻōʻō (1983–2018) and 10-year-long (2008–2018) Halemaʻumaʻu lava lake and emplacement of the ~4-month-long lower East Rift Zone lava flows that coincided with ~500 m of summit caldera collapse. Starting on December 20, 2020, eruptions resumed at Kīlauea’s summit...
Authors
Drew T. Downs, Kendra J. Lynn, Heather Brianne Winslow, Steven P. Lundblad, Meghann F.I. Decker
Small-volume tephra deposits of the May 1924 explosions from Halemaʻumaʻu, Kīlauea volcano, and their origin Small-volume tephra deposits of the May 1924 explosions from Halemaʻumaʻu, Kīlauea volcano, and their origin
More than 50 explosive eruptions occurred from Halemaʻumaʻu at Kīlauea volcano over 17 days from May 11 to 27, 1924. Ballistics weighing as much as 14,000 kg were ejected and most landed within 2 km of the vent. Fine ash made up a major component of the tephra and was dispersed tens of kilometers downwind. Draining of the Halemaʻumaʻu lava lake occurred in late February 1924, with the...
Authors
Drew T. Downs, Johanne Schmith, Julie Chang, Kendra J. Lynn, Don Swanson, Ben Gaddis, Ashton F. Flinders
Near-real-time geochemical monitoring of Hawaiian volcanoes using energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence (EDXRF) Near-real-time geochemical monitoring of Hawaiian volcanoes using energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence (EDXRF)
Syn-eruption geochemical monitoring during volcanic activity is an important component of integrated volcanic monitoring. Volcanoes on the Island of Hawai‘i are primarily monitored by the U.S. Geological Survey’s Hawaiian Volcano Observatory using instrumental networks, field surveys, satellite observations, and petrologic monitoring. In collaboration with the University of Hawaiʻi at...
Authors
Steven P. Lundblad, Peter R. Mills, Kendra J. Lynn, Elisabeth Gallant, Cheryl Gansecki, Meghann Decker, Drew T. Downs
Fluid inclusion constraints on the geometry of the magmatic plumbing system beneath Mauna Loa – Part I: Lavas and tephras Fluid inclusion constraints on the geometry of the magmatic plumbing system beneath Mauna Loa – Part I: Lavas and tephras
There are few petrological constraints on magma storage depths at Mauna Loa, Hawai‘i. Yet understanding the geometry of the magmatic plumbing system is critical for interpreting geophysical signals of unrest at this very high-threat volcano. We address this gap by examining CO₂-rich fluid inclusions (FI) in lava and tephra from seven eruptions (8870 ± 56 14C yr BP, 1852, 1855, 1868, 1949...
Authors
Penny E. Wieser, Sarah C. Shi, Matthew Gleeson, Berenise Rangel, Charlotte DeVitre, Alexander T. Bearden, Kendra J. Lynn, Marie Camille-Caumon
Fluid inclusion constraints on the geometry of the magmatic plumbing system beneath Mauna Loa – Part 2: Xenoliths Fluid inclusion constraints on the geometry of the magmatic plumbing system beneath Mauna Loa – Part 2: Xenoliths
Mauna Loa volcano erupts crystal-poor material at its summit and more crystal-rich material on its rift zones. Some of the more olivine-rich lava flows contain xenoliths with diverse mineralogy, including cumulate harzburgites with high-Mg# orthopyroxenes and high-Fo olivines (both > 84). Previous experimental work and thermodynamic modelling has proposed that high-Mg# orthopyroxenes...
Authors
Penny E. Wieser, Matthew Gleeson, Berenise Rangel, Charlotte DeVitre, Alexander T. Bearden, Kendra J. Lynn, Paula Antoshechkina, Amy Gaffney, Brian Monteleone
Mauna Loa 2022 – Unrest, eruption, and outreach at the world’s largest volcano: Preface to the special issue Mauna Loa 2022 – Unrest, eruption, and outreach at the world’s largest volcano: Preface to the special issue
No abstract available.
Authors
Kendra J. Lynn, Elisabeth Gallant, Drew T. Downs, Frank A. Trusdell
Baydiff: Bayesian diffusion chronometry for volcanic systems Baydiff: Bayesian diffusion chronometry for volcanic systems
Diffusion chronometry is a powerful tool for estimating the time scales of magmatic processes. This MATLAB software can be used to estimate diffusion time scales using the forsterite content of olivine crystals. Estimates are obtained probabilistically, using a Bayesian framework, and account for uncertainties in data as well as any independent (prior) information.
Science and Products
Filter Total Items: 13
Sample details and compositional data collected during episodes 1–39 (2024-2025) of the 2024-ongoing episodic Halema‘uma‘u eruption of Kīlauea, Island of Hawaiʻi Sample details and compositional data collected during episodes 1–39 (2024-2025) of the 2024-ongoing episodic Halema‘uma‘u eruption of Kīlauea, Island of Hawaiʻi
Samples for episodes 1–39 (2024-2025) of the 2024-ongoing episodic Halema‘uma‘u Kīlauea eruption were collected by the U.S. Geological Survey’s Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO) field teams from within publicly closed areas of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park in cooperation with the National Park Service. This data release presents sample metadata, whole rock ED-XRF, whole rock WD-XRF...
Sample details and compositional data collected during the 2024 Southwest Rift Zone and middle East Rift Zone eruptions of Kīlauea, Island of Hawaiʻi Sample details and compositional data collected during the 2024 Southwest Rift Zone and middle East Rift Zone eruptions of Kīlauea, Island of Hawaiʻi
Samples for the 2024 Kīlauea eruptions in the Southwest Rift Zone and middle East Rift Zone were collected by the U.S. Geological Survey’s Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO) field teams from within publicly closed areas of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park in cooperation with the National Park Service. This data release presents sample metadata, whole rock ED-XRF, whole rock WD-XRF, whole...
Physical volcanology data and measurements (grain size, grain shape, thickness, maximum clast size, ballistic block size, and componentry) from the May 11–27, 1924 tephra deposits of Halemaʻumaʻu crater, Kīlauea volcano, Island of Hawaiʻi Physical volcanology data and measurements (grain size, grain shape, thickness, maximum clast size, ballistic block size, and componentry) from the May 11–27, 1924 tephra deposits of Halemaʻumaʻu crater, Kīlauea volcano, Island of Hawaiʻi
Over 16 days from May 11–27, 1924, there were more than 50 explosions from Halemaʻumaʻu crater at Kīlauea volcano on the Island of Hawaiʻi. These explosions ejected blocks weighing >12,000 kg, as well as extremely fine ash to lapilli size tephra. The greatest thicknesses of tephra were at the summit region of Kīlauea, but some tephra fell on Wood Valley, Pāhala, and Waiʻōhinu to the...
Olivine core and rim electron microprobe analyses for the January-March 2023 Halema‘uma‘u eruption of Kīlauea Olivine core and rim electron microprobe analyses for the January-March 2023 Halema‘uma‘u eruption of Kīlauea
The January-March 2023 Halema‘uma‘u eruption occurred within Kaluapele (Kīlauea’s summit caldera) beginning on January 5 and ending on March 7 (Mulliken et al. 2024). This eruption reoccupied a previously active vent in the western side of the lava lake, as well as opening additional new vents on the eastern side of the lake. Field crews from the U.S. Geological Survey’s Hawaiian Volcano
Olivine core and rim electron microprobe analyses for the September 2023 Halema‘uma‘u eruption of Kīlauea, Island of Hawai‘i Olivine core and rim electron microprobe analyses for the September 2023 Halema‘uma‘u eruption of Kīlauea, Island of Hawai‘i
The September 2023 Halema‘uma‘u eruption began on September 10 and ended on September 16 (~1 week; Mulliken et al. 2024). Field crews from the U.S. Geological Survey’s Hawaiian Volcano Observatory collected tephra samples from fissures that had opened up on an area of the caldera floor east of Halema‘uma‘u crater (see Lynn et al. 2024 for map). Air quenched spatter and tephra samples...
Olivine core and rim electron microprobe analyses for the June 2023 Halema‘uma‘u eruption of Kīlauea, Island of Hawai‘i Olivine core and rim electron microprobe analyses for the June 2023 Halema‘uma‘u eruption of Kīlauea, Island of Hawai‘i
The June 2023 Halema‘uma‘u eruption began on June 7 and ended on June 19 (~2 weeks; Mulliken et al. 2024). Field crews from the U.S. Geological Survey’s Hawaiian Volcano Observatory collected frothy pumice clasts from initial high fountaining on 7 June 2023 from accessible regions southwest of Kaluapele (Kīlauea’s summit caldera). Samples were collected from within a publicly closed area...
Filter Total Items: 26
Spatial and temporal geochemical variations of lava flows and tephra deposits from the December 2020 to September 2024 eruptions of Kīlauea volcano Spatial and temporal geochemical variations of lava flows and tephra deposits from the December 2020 to September 2024 eruptions of Kīlauea volcano
Kīlauea volcano underwent dramatic morphological changes in 2018. That year recorded the end of the 35-year-long eruption of Puʻuʻōʻō (1983–2018) and 10-year-long (2008–2018) Halemaʻumaʻu lava lake and emplacement of the ~4-month-long lower East Rift Zone lava flows that coincided with ~500 m of summit caldera collapse. Starting on December 20, 2020, eruptions resumed at Kīlauea’s summit...
Authors
Drew T. Downs, Kendra J. Lynn, Heather Brianne Winslow, Steven P. Lundblad, Meghann F.I. Decker
Small-volume tephra deposits of the May 1924 explosions from Halemaʻumaʻu, Kīlauea volcano, and their origin Small-volume tephra deposits of the May 1924 explosions from Halemaʻumaʻu, Kīlauea volcano, and their origin
More than 50 explosive eruptions occurred from Halemaʻumaʻu at Kīlauea volcano over 17 days from May 11 to 27, 1924. Ballistics weighing as much as 14,000 kg were ejected and most landed within 2 km of the vent. Fine ash made up a major component of the tephra and was dispersed tens of kilometers downwind. Draining of the Halemaʻumaʻu lava lake occurred in late February 1924, with the...
Authors
Drew T. Downs, Johanne Schmith, Julie Chang, Kendra J. Lynn, Don Swanson, Ben Gaddis, Ashton F. Flinders
Near-real-time geochemical monitoring of Hawaiian volcanoes using energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence (EDXRF) Near-real-time geochemical monitoring of Hawaiian volcanoes using energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence (EDXRF)
Syn-eruption geochemical monitoring during volcanic activity is an important component of integrated volcanic monitoring. Volcanoes on the Island of Hawai‘i are primarily monitored by the U.S. Geological Survey’s Hawaiian Volcano Observatory using instrumental networks, field surveys, satellite observations, and petrologic monitoring. In collaboration with the University of Hawaiʻi at...
Authors
Steven P. Lundblad, Peter R. Mills, Kendra J. Lynn, Elisabeth Gallant, Cheryl Gansecki, Meghann Decker, Drew T. Downs
Fluid inclusion constraints on the geometry of the magmatic plumbing system beneath Mauna Loa – Part I: Lavas and tephras Fluid inclusion constraints on the geometry of the magmatic plumbing system beneath Mauna Loa – Part I: Lavas and tephras
There are few petrological constraints on magma storage depths at Mauna Loa, Hawai‘i. Yet understanding the geometry of the magmatic plumbing system is critical for interpreting geophysical signals of unrest at this very high-threat volcano. We address this gap by examining CO₂-rich fluid inclusions (FI) in lava and tephra from seven eruptions (8870 ± 56 14C yr BP, 1852, 1855, 1868, 1949...
Authors
Penny E. Wieser, Sarah C. Shi, Matthew Gleeson, Berenise Rangel, Charlotte DeVitre, Alexander T. Bearden, Kendra J. Lynn, Marie Camille-Caumon
Fluid inclusion constraints on the geometry of the magmatic plumbing system beneath Mauna Loa – Part 2: Xenoliths Fluid inclusion constraints on the geometry of the magmatic plumbing system beneath Mauna Loa – Part 2: Xenoliths
Mauna Loa volcano erupts crystal-poor material at its summit and more crystal-rich material on its rift zones. Some of the more olivine-rich lava flows contain xenoliths with diverse mineralogy, including cumulate harzburgites with high-Mg# orthopyroxenes and high-Fo olivines (both > 84). Previous experimental work and thermodynamic modelling has proposed that high-Mg# orthopyroxenes...
Authors
Penny E. Wieser, Matthew Gleeson, Berenise Rangel, Charlotte DeVitre, Alexander T. Bearden, Kendra J. Lynn, Paula Antoshechkina, Amy Gaffney, Brian Monteleone
Mauna Loa 2022 – Unrest, eruption, and outreach at the world’s largest volcano: Preface to the special issue Mauna Loa 2022 – Unrest, eruption, and outreach at the world’s largest volcano: Preface to the special issue
No abstract available.
Authors
Kendra J. Lynn, Elisabeth Gallant, Drew T. Downs, Frank A. Trusdell
Baydiff: Bayesian diffusion chronometry for volcanic systems Baydiff: Bayesian diffusion chronometry for volcanic systems
Diffusion chronometry is a powerful tool for estimating the time scales of magmatic processes. This MATLAB software can be used to estimate diffusion time scales using the forsterite content of olivine crystals. Estimates are obtained probabilistically, using a Bayesian framework, and account for uncertainties in data as well as any independent (prior) information.
*Disclaimer: Listing outside positions with professional scientific organizations on this Staff Profile are for informational purposes only and do not constitute an endorsement of those professional scientific organizations or their activities by the USGS, Department of the Interior, or U.S. Government