R. Lopaka Lee
Lopaka is a scientist-engineer working in the fields of computer science, geology, geophysics, and geochemistry. He works for the Advanced Research Computing team of the USGS Science Analytics and Synthesis program.
Professional Experience
USGS Advanced Research Computing (2021-present)
USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (2007-2021)
USGS Mineral Resources Program (1996-2007)
Education and Certifications
Colorado School of Mines, M.S. Geological Engineering (2000)
Northern Arizona University, B.S. Geology (1996)
Honors and Awards
Department of Interior's Superior Service Award (2016): For the Modernization of the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory's Instrumentation Network and Data-Processing Systems.
Science and Products
The tangled tale of Kīlauea’s 2018 eruption as told by geochemical monitoring
Changes in magma chemistry that affect eruptive behavior occur during many volcanic eruptions, but typical analytical techniques are too slow to contribute to hazard monitoring. We used rapid energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence analysis to measure diagnostic elements in lava samples within a few hours of collection during the 2018 Kīlauea eruption. The geochemical data provided...
Authors
Cheryl Gansecki, R. Lopaka Lee, Tom Shea, Steven P. Lundblad, Ken Hon, Carolyn Parcheta
The 2018 rift eruption and summit collapse of Kilauea Volcano
In 2018, Kīlauea Volcano experienced its largest lower East Rift Zone (LERZ) eruption and caldera collapse in at least 200 years. After collapse of the Pu'u 'Ō'ō vent on 30 April, magma propagated downrift. Eruptive fissures opened in the LERZ on 3 May, eventually extending ~6.8 km. A 4 May earthquake (M6.9) produced ~5 m of fault slip. Lava erupted at rates exceeding 100 m3/s...
Authors
Christina A. Neal, Steven Brantley, Loren Antolik, Janet Babb, Matthew Alexander Burgess, Michael Cappos, Jefferson Chang, Sarah Conway, Liliana G. Desmither, Peter Dotray, Tamar Elias, Pauline Fukunaga, Steven Fuke, Ingrid A. Johanson, Kevan Kamibayashi, James P. Kauahikaua, R. Lopaka Lee, S. Pekalib, Asta Miklius, Brian Shiro, Don Swanson, Patricia A. Nadeau, Michael H. Zoeller, Paul G. Okubo, Carolyn Parcheta, Matthew R. Patrick, William Tollett, Frank Trusdell, Edward F. Younger, Emily K. Montgomery-Brown, Kyle R. Anderson, Michael P. Poland, Jessica L. Ball, Joseph A. Bard, Michelle L. Coombs, Hannah R. Dietterich, Christoph Kern, Weston A. Thelen, Peter F. Cervelli, Tim R. Orr, Bruce F. Houghton, Cheryl Gansecki, Richard W. Hazlett, Paul Lundgren, Angie Diefenbach, Allan Lerner, Greg Waite, Peter J. Kelly, Laura Clor, Cynthia A. Werner, Katherine M. Mulliken, Gary B. Fisher, David Damby
Accurate predictions of microscale oxygen barometry in basaltic glasses using V K-edge X-ray absorption spectroscopy: A multivariate approach
Because magmatic oxygen fugacity (fO2) exerts a primary control on the discrete vanadium (V) valence states that will exist in quenched melts, V valence proxies for fO2, measured using X-ray absorption near-edge spectroscopy (XANES), can provide highly sensitive measurements of the redox conditions in basaltic melts. However, published calibrations for basaltic glasses primarily relate...
Authors
Antonio Lanzirotti, M. Darby Dyar, Steve Sutton, Matthew Newville, Elisabet Head, CJ Carey, Molly McCanta, R. Lopaka Lee, Penelope L. King, John Jones
Science and Products
The tangled tale of Kīlauea’s 2018 eruption as told by geochemical monitoring
Changes in magma chemistry that affect eruptive behavior occur during many volcanic eruptions, but typical analytical techniques are too slow to contribute to hazard monitoring. We used rapid energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence analysis to measure diagnostic elements in lava samples within a few hours of collection during the 2018 Kīlauea eruption. The geochemical data provided...
Authors
Cheryl Gansecki, R. Lopaka Lee, Tom Shea, Steven P. Lundblad, Ken Hon, Carolyn Parcheta
The 2018 rift eruption and summit collapse of Kilauea Volcano
In 2018, Kīlauea Volcano experienced its largest lower East Rift Zone (LERZ) eruption and caldera collapse in at least 200 years. After collapse of the Pu'u 'Ō'ō vent on 30 April, magma propagated downrift. Eruptive fissures opened in the LERZ on 3 May, eventually extending ~6.8 km. A 4 May earthquake (M6.9) produced ~5 m of fault slip. Lava erupted at rates exceeding 100 m3/s...
Authors
Christina A. Neal, Steven Brantley, Loren Antolik, Janet Babb, Matthew Alexander Burgess, Michael Cappos, Jefferson Chang, Sarah Conway, Liliana G. Desmither, Peter Dotray, Tamar Elias, Pauline Fukunaga, Steven Fuke, Ingrid A. Johanson, Kevan Kamibayashi, James P. Kauahikaua, R. Lopaka Lee, S. Pekalib, Asta Miklius, Brian Shiro, Don Swanson, Patricia A. Nadeau, Michael H. Zoeller, Paul G. Okubo, Carolyn Parcheta, Matthew R. Patrick, William Tollett, Frank Trusdell, Edward F. Younger, Emily K. Montgomery-Brown, Kyle R. Anderson, Michael P. Poland, Jessica L. Ball, Joseph A. Bard, Michelle L. Coombs, Hannah R. Dietterich, Christoph Kern, Weston A. Thelen, Peter F. Cervelli, Tim R. Orr, Bruce F. Houghton, Cheryl Gansecki, Richard W. Hazlett, Paul Lundgren, Angie Diefenbach, Allan Lerner, Greg Waite, Peter J. Kelly, Laura Clor, Cynthia A. Werner, Katherine M. Mulliken, Gary B. Fisher, David Damby
Accurate predictions of microscale oxygen barometry in basaltic glasses using V K-edge X-ray absorption spectroscopy: A multivariate approach
Because magmatic oxygen fugacity (fO2) exerts a primary control on the discrete vanadium (V) valence states that will exist in quenched melts, V valence proxies for fO2, measured using X-ray absorption near-edge spectroscopy (XANES), can provide highly sensitive measurements of the redox conditions in basaltic melts. However, published calibrations for basaltic glasses primarily relate...
Authors
Antonio Lanzirotti, M. Darby Dyar, Steve Sutton, Matthew Newville, Elisabet Head, CJ Carey, Molly McCanta, R. Lopaka Lee, Penelope L. King, John Jones