State of the Planet

News from the Columbia Climate School

Science for the Planet: Uncovering the Mysteries of Greenland’s Melting Ice Sheets

Marco Tedesco, a polar scientist at the Climate School’s Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, explains how remote sensing data from satellites and drones can reveal the processes behind the melting of Greenland’s ice sheets, currently one of the biggest contributors to sea-level rise.

“The acceleration of melting in Greenland now contributes 30-35% of the total sea level rise,” Tedesco says. “It is expected to be, together with Antarctica, around 50% of the total contribution over the next few decades because we do not anticipate any slowdown.”

This is the sixth video of Science for the Planet, a short explainer series about how scientists and scholars from across the Columbia Climate School are trying to understand the effects of climate change and help solve the crisis.

Read more about Tedesco’s work: “Some of the Most Drastic Risks From Climate Change Are Routinely Excluded From Economic Models, Says Study.”

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

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