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
Guidelines and recommended terms for expression of stable-isotope-ratio and gas-ratio measurement results
Atomic weights: No longer constants of nature
Atomic weights of the elements 2009 (IUPAC technical report)
Applying the silver-tube introduction method for thermal conversion elemental analyses and a new δ2H value for NBS 22 oil
Correction for the 17O interference in δ(13C) measurements when analyzing CO2 with stable isotope mass spectrometry
Novel silver tubing method for quantitative introduction of water into high temperature conversion systems for stable hydrogen and oxygen isotopic measurements
Isotope reference materials
Caution on the use of liquid nitrogen traps in stable hydrogen isotope-ratio mass spectrometry
Comprehensive inter-laboratory calibration of reference materials for δ18O versus VSMOW using various on-line high-temperature conversion techniques
The stable isotope amount effect: New insights from NEXRAD echo tops, Luquillo Mountains, Puerto Rico
Quality assurance and quality control in light stable isotope laboratories: A case study of Rio Grande, Texas, water samples
Determination of the delta(2H/1H)of Water: RSIL Lab Code 1574
Science and Products
Guidelines and recommended terms for expression of stable-isotope-ratio and gas-ratio measurement results
Atomic weights: No longer constants of nature
Atomic weights of the elements 2009 (IUPAC technical report)
Applying the silver-tube introduction method for thermal conversion elemental analyses and a new δ2H value for NBS 22 oil
Correction for the 17O interference in δ(13C) measurements when analyzing CO2 with stable isotope mass spectrometry
Novel silver tubing method for quantitative introduction of water into high temperature conversion systems for stable hydrogen and oxygen isotopic measurements
Isotope reference materials
Caution on the use of liquid nitrogen traps in stable hydrogen isotope-ratio mass spectrometry
Comprehensive inter-laboratory calibration of reference materials for δ18O versus VSMOW using various on-line high-temperature conversion techniques
The stable isotope amount effect: New insights from NEXRAD echo tops, Luquillo Mountains, Puerto Rico
Quality assurance and quality control in light stable isotope laboratories: A case study of Rio Grande, Texas, water samples
Determination of the delta(2H/1H)of Water: RSIL Lab Code 1574
*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