State of the Planet

News from the Columbia Climate School

20164

  • The ‘Bird’ Has Flown!

    The ‘Bird’ Has Flown!

    The ‘bird’ has flown! Voices are raised in celebratory cheers from the southernmost continent to across the U.S. Our first ALAMO float is deployed! Now we can begin to answer some of the big questions on this mysterious ice/ocean interface.

  • When Permafrost Melts, What Happens to All That Stored Carbon?

    When Permafrost Melts, What Happens to All That Stored Carbon?

    A new study documents evidence of a massive release of carbon from Siberian permafrost as temperatures rose at the end of the last ice age.

  • Antarctica Has a New Explorer in the Water Near a Key Ice Shelf

    Antarctica Has a New Explorer in the Water Near a Key Ice Shelf

    The first of six ALAMO floats parachuted into the Ross Sea off Antarctica to begin profiling the water in a check for areas where warmer than normal water could put the Ross Ice Shelf at risk.

  • Increasing Tornado Outbreaks: Is Climate Change Responsible?

    Increasing Tornado Outbreaks: Is Climate Change Responsible?

    In a paper published in the journal Science, researchers looked at increasing trends in the severity of tornado outbreaks, measured by the number of tornadoes per outbreak. They found that these trends are increasing fastest for the most extreme outbreaks.

  • Seeking an Urban Sustainability Graduate Research Assistant

    Seeking an Urban Sustainability Graduate Research Assistant

    Are you a full-time Columbia graduate student interested in urban sustainability and equity? Do you have superb writing, analytic and research skills? Apply by December 9 for this part-time research assistant position.

  • AGU 2016: Key Events From the Earth Institute

    AGU 2016: Key Events From the Earth Institute

    Scientists at Columbia University’s Earth Institute will present important findings at this year’s meeting of the American Geophysical Union, the world’s largest gathering of earth and space scientists.

  • CIESIN Teams with Facebook to Develop Open, Improved Settlement Data

    CIESIN Teams with Facebook to Develop Open, Improved Settlement Data

    New high-resolution population data will help us understand better how people are distributed in many countries throughout the world—as part of Facebook’s goal to connect people everywhere to the Internet.

  • Earth Observation Science, Public Policymaking, and the Trump Administration

    Earth Observation Science, Public Policymaking, and the Trump Administration

    We do not know enough about our planet and the impact of human technology on its basic systems. It is beyond idiotic to think we can grow our population and consumption this much, this quickly, and have no impact. But it is also foolish to overstate what we know and ask policymakers to invest trillions…

  • My Trip to the Bottom of the Sea

    My Trip to the Bottom of the Sea

    What’s it like to travel to the bottom of the sea? Lamont graduate student Bridgit Boulahanis describes the bioluminescence and colorful sea life as she explores a seamount by mini submarine in the Pacific Ocean.

Photo of the Earth from space with the text "Lamont at AGU25" on top.

AGU25, the premier Earth and space science conference, takes place December 15-19, 2025 in New Orleans, Louisiana. This year’s theme—Where Science Connects Us—puts in focus how science depends on connection, from the lab to the field to the ballot box. Once again, Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory and Columbia Climate School scientists, experts, students, and educators are playing an active role, sharing our research and helping shape the future of our planet. #AGU25 Learn More

  • The ‘Bird’ Has Flown!

    The ‘Bird’ Has Flown!

    The ‘bird’ has flown! Voices are raised in celebratory cheers from the southernmost continent to across the U.S. Our first ALAMO float is deployed! Now we can begin to answer some of the big questions on this mysterious ice/ocean interface.

  • When Permafrost Melts, What Happens to All That Stored Carbon?

    When Permafrost Melts, What Happens to All That Stored Carbon?

    A new study documents evidence of a massive release of carbon from Siberian permafrost as temperatures rose at the end of the last ice age.

  • Antarctica Has a New Explorer in the Water Near a Key Ice Shelf

    Antarctica Has a New Explorer in the Water Near a Key Ice Shelf

    The first of six ALAMO floats parachuted into the Ross Sea off Antarctica to begin profiling the water in a check for areas where warmer than normal water could put the Ross Ice Shelf at risk.

  • Increasing Tornado Outbreaks: Is Climate Change Responsible?

    Increasing Tornado Outbreaks: Is Climate Change Responsible?

    In a paper published in the journal Science, researchers looked at increasing trends in the severity of tornado outbreaks, measured by the number of tornadoes per outbreak. They found that these trends are increasing fastest for the most extreme outbreaks.

  • Seeking an Urban Sustainability Graduate Research Assistant

    Seeking an Urban Sustainability Graduate Research Assistant

    Are you a full-time Columbia graduate student interested in urban sustainability and equity? Do you have superb writing, analytic and research skills? Apply by December 9 for this part-time research assistant position.

  • AGU 2016: Key Events From the Earth Institute

    AGU 2016: Key Events From the Earth Institute

    Scientists at Columbia University’s Earth Institute will present important findings at this year’s meeting of the American Geophysical Union, the world’s largest gathering of earth and space scientists.

  • CIESIN Teams with Facebook to Develop Open, Improved Settlement Data

    CIESIN Teams with Facebook to Develop Open, Improved Settlement Data

    New high-resolution population data will help us understand better how people are distributed in many countries throughout the world—as part of Facebook’s goal to connect people everywhere to the Internet.

  • Earth Observation Science, Public Policymaking, and the Trump Administration

    Earth Observation Science, Public Policymaking, and the Trump Administration

    We do not know enough about our planet and the impact of human technology on its basic systems. It is beyond idiotic to think we can grow our population and consumption this much, this quickly, and have no impact. But it is also foolish to overstate what we know and ask policymakers to invest trillions…

  • My Trip to the Bottom of the Sea

    My Trip to the Bottom of the Sea

    What’s it like to travel to the bottom of the sea? Lamont graduate student Bridgit Boulahanis describes the bioluminescence and colorful sea life as she explores a seamount by mini submarine in the Pacific Ocean.