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
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
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)
Tables and charts for isotope-abundance variations and atomic weights of selected elements: 2016 Tables and charts for isotope-abundance variations and atomic weights of selected elements: 2016
A multi-year record of chemical and isotopic composition of water from springs of the Shenandoah National Park, Virginia A multi-year record of chemical and isotopic composition of water from springs of the Shenandoah National Park, Virginia
Table of standard atomic weights of the elements 2015 Table of standard atomic weights of the elements 2015
Tables supporting improved EA-Cr_HTC hydrogen-isotope technique for halogen- and S-bearing organic compounds Tables supporting improved EA-Cr_HTC hydrogen-isotope technique for halogen- and S-bearing organic compounds
Standard and conventional atomic weights 2016 abridged to four significant digits Standard and conventional atomic weights 2016 abridged to four significant digits
Four-place table of standard atomic weight values of hydrogen through uranium compared since 1961 Four-place table of standard atomic weight values of hydrogen through uranium compared since 1961
Minimum requirements for publishing hydrogen, carbon, nitrogen, oxygen and sulfur stable-isotope delta results (IUPAC Technical Report) Minimum requirements for publishing hydrogen, carbon, nitrogen, oxygen and sulfur stable-isotope delta results (IUPAC Technical Report)
TSAW — An exercise in consensus TSAW — An exercise in consensus
Standard atomic weights of the elements 2021 (IUPAC Technical Report) Standard atomic weights of the elements 2021 (IUPAC Technical Report)
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
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
USGS44, a new high-purity calcium carbonate reference material for δ13C measurements USGS44, a new high-purity calcium carbonate reference material for δ13C measurements
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)
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
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
Dual clumped isotope thermometry resolves kinetic biases in carbonate formation temperatures Dual clumped isotope thermometry resolves kinetic biases in carbonate formation temperatures
Investigation of recent decadal-scale cyclical fluctuations in salinity in the lower Colorado river Investigation of recent decadal-scale cyclical fluctuations in salinity in the lower Colorado river
Most Earth-surface calcites precipitate out of isotopic equilibrium Most Earth-surface calcites precipitate out of isotopic equilibrium
Science and Products
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
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)
Tables and charts for isotope-abundance variations and atomic weights of selected elements: 2016 Tables and charts for isotope-abundance variations and atomic weights of selected elements: 2016
A multi-year record of chemical and isotopic composition of water from springs of the Shenandoah National Park, Virginia A multi-year record of chemical and isotopic composition of water from springs of the Shenandoah National Park, Virginia
Table of standard atomic weights of the elements 2015 Table of standard atomic weights of the elements 2015
Tables supporting improved EA-Cr_HTC hydrogen-isotope technique for halogen- and S-bearing organic compounds Tables supporting improved EA-Cr_HTC hydrogen-isotope technique for halogen- and S-bearing organic compounds
Standard and conventional atomic weights 2016 abridged to four significant digits Standard and conventional atomic weights 2016 abridged to four significant digits
Four-place table of standard atomic weight values of hydrogen through uranium compared since 1961 Four-place table of standard atomic weight values of hydrogen through uranium compared since 1961
Minimum requirements for publishing hydrogen, carbon, nitrogen, oxygen and sulfur stable-isotope delta results (IUPAC Technical Report) Minimum requirements for publishing hydrogen, carbon, nitrogen, oxygen and sulfur stable-isotope delta results (IUPAC Technical Report)
TSAW — An exercise in consensus TSAW — An exercise in consensus
Standard atomic weights of the elements 2021 (IUPAC Technical Report) Standard atomic weights of the elements 2021 (IUPAC Technical Report)
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
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
USGS44, a new high-purity calcium carbonate reference material for δ13C measurements USGS44, a new high-purity calcium carbonate reference material for δ13C measurements
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)
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
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
Dual clumped isotope thermometry resolves kinetic biases in carbonate formation temperatures Dual clumped isotope thermometry resolves kinetic biases in carbonate formation temperatures
Investigation of recent decadal-scale cyclical fluctuations in salinity in the lower Colorado river Investigation of recent decadal-scale cyclical fluctuations in salinity in the lower Colorado river
Most Earth-surface calcites precipitate out of isotopic equilibrium Most Earth-surface calcites precipitate out of isotopic equilibrium
*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