Tyler B. Coplen, Ph.D.
Dr. Tyler Coplen is the Director of the Reston Stable Isotope Laboratory of the USGS Water Resources Mission Area.
Tyler B. Coplen is an ST scientist in geochemistry. His research focuses on isotope hydrology, development of innovative analytical techniques for isotopic analysis of light elements, provides forensic-quality analytical services to USGS programs, and creates isotopic reference materials for calibration of mass spectrometers and laser absorption spectrometers in isotope laboratories worldwide. In 1974, he joined the U.S. Geological Survey, and in 1978, he set up the Reston Stable Isotope Laboratory, please visit the Reston Stable Isotope Laboratory website. He set up and led the Subcommittee on Natural Isotopic Fractionation (1985–2002) of the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) that resulted in a dozen elements being assigned standard atomic-weight values that are intervals, instead of single values, to indicate that atomic-weight values of many elements are not constants of nature.
Professional Experience
Assistant Research Geochemist, University of California, Riverside 1970–1974
Education and Certifications
Ph.D. 1970, University of Chicago, Department of Geophysical Sciences, Advisor: Prof. Robert N. Clayton
M.S. 1968, University of Chicago, Department of Geophysical Sciences
B.S. 1966, Pacific Lutheran University, Major: Physics
Affiliations and Memberships*
Honorary Member, Commission on Isotopic Abundances and Atomic Weights of the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry
Science and Products
Filter Total Items: 18
Chemical and isotopic compositions of tropical wood samples Chemical and isotopic compositions of tropical wood samples
Illegal logging is one of the leading causes of deforestation today. Sadly, tree species indigenous to regions critical to maintaining Earth?s ecological diversity also possess properties (i.e. appearance, aroma, etc.) desirable to humans, which often leads to exploitation. In 1992, due to illegal logging, Brazilian rosewood (Dalbergia nigra) became the first ever tree species to be...
USGS46a Greenland ice core water ? A reference material for stable hydrogen and oxygen isotopic composition of water USGS46a Greenland ice core water ? A reference material for stable hydrogen and oxygen isotopic composition of water
Ice core from Greenland was melted, filtered, and homogenized. Its stable hydrogen (δ2H) and oxygen (δ18O) isotopic compositions were adjusted to approximately match those of USGS46 ice core water (δ2H = ?235.8 ? and δ18O = ?29.80 ?). This isotopic reference water, USGS46a, was loaded into glass ampules, sealed, autoclaved to eliminate biological activity, and calibrated by dual-inlet...
Data on Produced Water Quality and Quantities from Hydraulically Fractured Williston Basin Oil Wells Data on Produced Water Quality and Quantities from Hydraulically Fractured Williston Basin Oil Wells
This dataset contains compositional data on 17 produced water samples from hydraulically fractured unconventional oil wells completed in the Middle Bakken and Three Forks Formations. The oil wells are located in five different wellfields across the Williston Basin. Specific gravity, conductivity, temperature, pH and oxidation-reduction potential for each sample was measured in the field...
Stable carbon and oxygen isotope paleoclimate records of U.S. Geological Survey-collected samples from Devils Hole and Devils Hole Cave 2, Nevada Stable carbon and oxygen isotope paleoclimate records of U.S. Geological Survey-collected samples from Devils Hole and Devils Hole Cave 2, Nevada
In support of paleoclimatology investigations, samples of mammillary calcite, calcitic folia, and flowstone were collected by the U.S. Geological Survey in Devils Hole and Devils Hole Cave 2, Nevada, between 1983 and 1996. These samples came from about 60 m below to 9 m above the modern water table in these caverns. To determine delta18O and delta13C time series spanning the interval 567...
Data for food matrix reference materials for hydrogen, carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, and sulfur stable isotope-ratio measurements Data for food matrix reference materials for hydrogen, carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, and sulfur stable isotope-ratio measurements
An international project developed, quality-tested, and measured isotope-delta values of 10 new food matrix reference materials (RMs) for hydrogen, carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, and sulfur stable isotope-ratio measurements to support food authenticity testing and food provenance verification. These new RMs, USGS82 to USGS91, will enable users to normalize measurements of samples to isotope...
Supplemental Discrete Dissolved-Solids Data and Monthly Mean Dissolved-Solids Data for Lower Colorado River (1928-2016) Supplemental Discrete Dissolved-Solids Data and Monthly Mean Dissolved-Solids Data for Lower Colorado River (1928-2016)
Monthly Mean Dissolved-Solids Concentration and Monthly Mean Dissolved-Solids Load Data Flow weighted monthly mean dissolved-solids concentrations (mg/L) data and monthly mean dissolved-solids load data from 1928-2016 were computed by USGS using raw data from the Bureau of Reclamation. These data were computed by USGS for all of the seven sites (listed below). Colorado River above...
Filter Total Items: 153
Insights on geochemical, isotopic, and volumetric compositions of produced water from hydraulically fractured Williston Basin oil wells Insights on geochemical, isotopic, and volumetric compositions of produced water from hydraulically fractured Williston Basin oil wells
Tracing produced water origins from wells hydraulically fractured with freshwater-based fluids is sometimes predicated on assumptions that (1) each geological formation contains compositionally unique brine and (2) produced water from recently hydraulically fractured wells resembles fresher meteoric water more so than produced water from older wells. These assumptions are not valid in...
Authors
Tanya J. Gallegos, Colin Doolan, Rodney Caldwell, Mark Engle, Matthew S. Varonka, Justin Birdwell, Glenn Jolly, Tyler Coplen, Thomas Oliver
By
Devils Hole calcite was precipitated at ±1°C stable aquifer temperatures during the last half million years Devils Hole calcite was precipitated at ±1°C stable aquifer temperatures during the last half million years
Subaqueous carbonates from the Devils Hole caves (southwestern USA) provide a continuous Holocene to Pleistocene North American paleoclimate record. The accuracy of this record relies on two assumptions: That carbonates precipitated close to isotope equilibrium and that groundwater temperature did not change significantly in the last 570 thousand years. Here, we investigate these...
Authors
David Bajnai, Tyler Coplen, Katharina Methner, Niklas Loffler, Emilija Krsnik, Jens Fiebig
USGS44, a new high-purity calcium carbonate reference material for δ13C measurements USGS44, a new high-purity calcium carbonate reference material for δ13C measurements
Rationale The stable carbon isotopic (δ13C) reference material (RM) LSVEC Li2CO3 has been found to be unsuitable for δ13C standardization work because its δ13C value increases with exposure to atmospheric CO2. A new CaCO3 RM, USGS44, has been prepared to alleviate this situation.Methods USGS44 was prepared from 8 kg of Merck high-purity CaCO3. Two sets of δ13C values of USGS44 were...
Authors
Haiping Qi, Heiko Moossen, Harro Meijer, Tyler Coplen, Anita Aerts-Bijma, Lauren Reid, Heiko Geilmann, Jurgen Richter, Michael Rothe, Willi Brand, Blaza Toman, Jacqueline Benefield, Jean-Francois Helie
Variation of lead isotopic composition and atomic weight in terrestrial materials (IUPAC Technical Report) Variation of lead isotopic composition and atomic weight in terrestrial materials (IUPAC Technical Report)
The isotopic composition and atomic weight of lead are variable in terrestrial materials because its three heaviest stable isotopes are stable end-products of the radioactive decay of uranium (238U to 206Pb; 235U to 207Pb) and thorium (232Th to 208Pb). The lightest stable isotope, 204Pb, is primordial. These variations in isotope ratios and atomic weights provide useful information in...
Authors
Xiang-Kun Zhu, Jacqueline Benefield, Tyler Coplen, Zhaofu Gao, Norman Holden
Calibration of carbonate-water triple oxygen isotope fractionation: Seeing through diagenesis in ancient carbonates Calibration of carbonate-water triple oxygen isotope fractionation: Seeing through diagenesis in ancient carbonates
High precision triple oxygen isotope measurements of carbonates can better constrain temperatures and oxygen isotope compositions of seawater through geologic time than 18O/16O measurements alone, but lack of a definitive calibration has hindered progress. In this study, we fluorinated both carbonate and water samples to measure quantitatively the triple oxygen isotope composition of...
Authors
Jordan Wostbrock, Uwe Brand, Tyler Coplen, Peter Swart, Sandra Carlson, Adrian Brearley, Zachary Sharp
Food matrix reference materials for hydrogen, carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, and sulfur stable isotope-ratio measurements: Collagens, flours, honeys, and vegetable oils Food matrix reference materials for hydrogen, carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, and sulfur stable isotope-ratio measurements: Collagens, flours, honeys, and vegetable oils
An international project developed, quality-tested, and measured isotope–delta values of 10 new food matrix reference materials (RMs) for hydrogen, carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, and sulfur stable isotope-ratio measurements to support food authenticity testing and food provenance verification. These new RMs, USGS82 to USGS91, will enable users to normalize measurements of samples to isotope...
Authors
Arndt Schimmelmann, Haiping Qi, Philip J.H. Dunn, Federica Camin, Luana Bontempo, Doris Potocnik, Nives Ogrinc, Simon Kelly, James Carter, Aiman Abrahim, Lauren Reid, Tyler Coplen
Science and Products
Filter Total Items: 18
Chemical and isotopic compositions of tropical wood samples Chemical and isotopic compositions of tropical wood samples
Illegal logging is one of the leading causes of deforestation today. Sadly, tree species indigenous to regions critical to maintaining Earth?s ecological diversity also possess properties (i.e. appearance, aroma, etc.) desirable to humans, which often leads to exploitation. In 1992, due to illegal logging, Brazilian rosewood (Dalbergia nigra) became the first ever tree species to be...
USGS46a Greenland ice core water ? A reference material for stable hydrogen and oxygen isotopic composition of water USGS46a Greenland ice core water ? A reference material for stable hydrogen and oxygen isotopic composition of water
Ice core from Greenland was melted, filtered, and homogenized. Its stable hydrogen (δ2H) and oxygen (δ18O) isotopic compositions were adjusted to approximately match those of USGS46 ice core water (δ2H = ?235.8 ? and δ18O = ?29.80 ?). This isotopic reference water, USGS46a, was loaded into glass ampules, sealed, autoclaved to eliminate biological activity, and calibrated by dual-inlet...
Data on Produced Water Quality and Quantities from Hydraulically Fractured Williston Basin Oil Wells Data on Produced Water Quality and Quantities from Hydraulically Fractured Williston Basin Oil Wells
This dataset contains compositional data on 17 produced water samples from hydraulically fractured unconventional oil wells completed in the Middle Bakken and Three Forks Formations. The oil wells are located in five different wellfields across the Williston Basin. Specific gravity, conductivity, temperature, pH and oxidation-reduction potential for each sample was measured in the field...
Stable carbon and oxygen isotope paleoclimate records of U.S. Geological Survey-collected samples from Devils Hole and Devils Hole Cave 2, Nevada Stable carbon and oxygen isotope paleoclimate records of U.S. Geological Survey-collected samples from Devils Hole and Devils Hole Cave 2, Nevada
In support of paleoclimatology investigations, samples of mammillary calcite, calcitic folia, and flowstone were collected by the U.S. Geological Survey in Devils Hole and Devils Hole Cave 2, Nevada, between 1983 and 1996. These samples came from about 60 m below to 9 m above the modern water table in these caverns. To determine delta18O and delta13C time series spanning the interval 567...
Data for food matrix reference materials for hydrogen, carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, and sulfur stable isotope-ratio measurements Data for food matrix reference materials for hydrogen, carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, and sulfur stable isotope-ratio measurements
An international project developed, quality-tested, and measured isotope-delta values of 10 new food matrix reference materials (RMs) for hydrogen, carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, and sulfur stable isotope-ratio measurements to support food authenticity testing and food provenance verification. These new RMs, USGS82 to USGS91, will enable users to normalize measurements of samples to isotope...
Supplemental Discrete Dissolved-Solids Data and Monthly Mean Dissolved-Solids Data for Lower Colorado River (1928-2016) Supplemental Discrete Dissolved-Solids Data and Monthly Mean Dissolved-Solids Data for Lower Colorado River (1928-2016)
Monthly Mean Dissolved-Solids Concentration and Monthly Mean Dissolved-Solids Load Data Flow weighted monthly mean dissolved-solids concentrations (mg/L) data and monthly mean dissolved-solids load data from 1928-2016 were computed by USGS using raw data from the Bureau of Reclamation. These data were computed by USGS for all of the seven sites (listed below). Colorado River above...
Filter Total Items: 153
Insights on geochemical, isotopic, and volumetric compositions of produced water from hydraulically fractured Williston Basin oil wells Insights on geochemical, isotopic, and volumetric compositions of produced water from hydraulically fractured Williston Basin oil wells
Tracing produced water origins from wells hydraulically fractured with freshwater-based fluids is sometimes predicated on assumptions that (1) each geological formation contains compositionally unique brine and (2) produced water from recently hydraulically fractured wells resembles fresher meteoric water more so than produced water from older wells. These assumptions are not valid in...
Authors
Tanya J. Gallegos, Colin Doolan, Rodney Caldwell, Mark Engle, Matthew S. Varonka, Justin Birdwell, Glenn Jolly, Tyler Coplen, Thomas Oliver
By
Devils Hole calcite was precipitated at ±1°C stable aquifer temperatures during the last half million years Devils Hole calcite was precipitated at ±1°C stable aquifer temperatures during the last half million years
Subaqueous carbonates from the Devils Hole caves (southwestern USA) provide a continuous Holocene to Pleistocene North American paleoclimate record. The accuracy of this record relies on two assumptions: That carbonates precipitated close to isotope equilibrium and that groundwater temperature did not change significantly in the last 570 thousand years. Here, we investigate these...
Authors
David Bajnai, Tyler Coplen, Katharina Methner, Niklas Loffler, Emilija Krsnik, Jens Fiebig
USGS44, a new high-purity calcium carbonate reference material for δ13C measurements USGS44, a new high-purity calcium carbonate reference material for δ13C measurements
Rationale The stable carbon isotopic (δ13C) reference material (RM) LSVEC Li2CO3 has been found to be unsuitable for δ13C standardization work because its δ13C value increases with exposure to atmospheric CO2. A new CaCO3 RM, USGS44, has been prepared to alleviate this situation.Methods USGS44 was prepared from 8 kg of Merck high-purity CaCO3. Two sets of δ13C values of USGS44 were...
Authors
Haiping Qi, Heiko Moossen, Harro Meijer, Tyler Coplen, Anita Aerts-Bijma, Lauren Reid, Heiko Geilmann, Jurgen Richter, Michael Rothe, Willi Brand, Blaza Toman, Jacqueline Benefield, Jean-Francois Helie
Variation of lead isotopic composition and atomic weight in terrestrial materials (IUPAC Technical Report) Variation of lead isotopic composition and atomic weight in terrestrial materials (IUPAC Technical Report)
The isotopic composition and atomic weight of lead are variable in terrestrial materials because its three heaviest stable isotopes are stable end-products of the radioactive decay of uranium (238U to 206Pb; 235U to 207Pb) and thorium (232Th to 208Pb). The lightest stable isotope, 204Pb, is primordial. These variations in isotope ratios and atomic weights provide useful information in...
Authors
Xiang-Kun Zhu, Jacqueline Benefield, Tyler Coplen, Zhaofu Gao, Norman Holden
Calibration of carbonate-water triple oxygen isotope fractionation: Seeing through diagenesis in ancient carbonates Calibration of carbonate-water triple oxygen isotope fractionation: Seeing through diagenesis in ancient carbonates
High precision triple oxygen isotope measurements of carbonates can better constrain temperatures and oxygen isotope compositions of seawater through geologic time than 18O/16O measurements alone, but lack of a definitive calibration has hindered progress. In this study, we fluorinated both carbonate and water samples to measure quantitatively the triple oxygen isotope composition of...
Authors
Jordan Wostbrock, Uwe Brand, Tyler Coplen, Peter Swart, Sandra Carlson, Adrian Brearley, Zachary Sharp
Food matrix reference materials for hydrogen, carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, and sulfur stable isotope-ratio measurements: Collagens, flours, honeys, and vegetable oils Food matrix reference materials for hydrogen, carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, and sulfur stable isotope-ratio measurements: Collagens, flours, honeys, and vegetable oils
An international project developed, quality-tested, and measured isotope–delta values of 10 new food matrix reference materials (RMs) for hydrogen, carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, and sulfur stable isotope-ratio measurements to support food authenticity testing and food provenance verification. These new RMs, USGS82 to USGS91, will enable users to normalize measurements of samples to isotope...
Authors
Arndt Schimmelmann, Haiping Qi, Philip J.H. Dunn, Federica Camin, Luana Bontempo, Doris Potocnik, Nives Ogrinc, Simon Kelly, James Carter, Aiman Abrahim, Lauren Reid, Tyler Coplen
*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