Natural Disasters2
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Building Climate Resilience Through Insurance Incentives
How can insurance drive smarter resilience investments? A group of M.A. in Climate and Society students aimed to find out.
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Earth’s Crust Is Tearing Apart off the Pacific Northwest—and That’s Not Necessarily Bad News
Using seismic reflection imaging—essentially an ultrasound of the Earth’s subsurface—and detailed earthquake records, researchers captured a subduction zone in the process of tearing itself apart.
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Study of Extreme Indian Rainfall Upends Conventional Wisdom
While El Niño often brings drought conditions to India, a new paper shows that it also increases the likelihood of devastating downpours in some of the country’s most heavily populated regions.
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Twenty Years Later: What Lessons Have We Learned From Hurricane Katrina?
As the risk of extreme weather grows, Columbia experts revisit Katrina’s legacy and what it means for future catastrophes.
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The Rising Threat to New York City’s Food System
An increasing risk of flooding in Hunts Point could upend a large share of the city food distribution.
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Leveraging Next-Generation Tsunami Early Warning Systems to Save Lives
Tsunami early warning systems save lives not just when they are fast or accurate, but when they are trusted, understood and acted upon.
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Seismic Study Reveals Hidden Megathrust Earthquake Risk off British Columbia
A new study has revealed the first detailed images of a newly developing subduction zone off the coast of British Columbia.
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A Disaster Expert Explains Why the Texas Floods Were So Devastating
A warning system, which might involve integrating older technology like weather radios with new AI products and local knowledge, is key to preventing future loss of life.
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Rivers Choose Their Path Based on Erosion—a Discovery That Could Transform Flood Planning
A new study offers insight into natural hazards and river restoration, potentially guiding infrastructure projects ahead of disasters like the recent Texas flooding.

By studying thousands of buildings and analyzing their electricity use, Columbia Climate School Dean Alexis Abramson has been able to uncover ways to significantly cut energy consumption and emissions. Watch the Video: “Engineering a Cooler Future Through Smarter Buildings“
