State of the Planet

News from the Columbia Climate School

Natural Disasters37

  • Finishing the GPS Scouting

    Finishing the GPS Scouting

    We drove through the hills of Sylhet passed rice fields and tea plantations, and through woods looking for appropriate spots to install our GPS systems.

  • Primary Schools to the Rescue

    Primary Schools to the Rescue

    Up ahead was a school, perfect for a GPS installation. Schools proved to be the best sites in the hills, which we covered in either tea plantations or woods.

  • Installing the First Two GPS Sites

    Installing the First Two GPS Sites

    From our base in Srimongal, now came the challenging work of finding appropriate locations to install the GPS. It requires a combination of the right tectonic setting and reinforced concrete buildings.

  • Fellowship of the Seismometers

    Fellowship of the Seismometers

    I am back in Bangladesh to start deployment of seismometers and GPS for a large new project that crosses 3 countries: Bangladesh, India and Myanmar.

  • Scientists Find Strong Link Between Climate Change and Wildfires

    Scientists Find Strong Link Between Climate Change and Wildfires

    High school students in a science communication class blog about research from Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory.

  • Fire Modeling: A New Approach to Wildfire Prevention

    Fire Modeling: A New Approach to Wildfire Prevention

    High school students in a science communication class blog about research from Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory.

  • Why People Often Don’t Properly Prepare for Hurricanes

    Why People Often Don’t Properly Prepare for Hurricanes

    A new study looks at the mental biases that prevent people from taking adequate safety measures when a hurricane is on the way.

  • Breaking New Ground in Hurricane Modeling

    Breaking New Ground in Hurricane Modeling

    Researchers create first model for hurricane hazard assessment that is both open source and capable of accounting for climate change.

  • Improving Tropical Cyclone Risk Assessment

    Improving Tropical Cyclone Risk Assessment

    Chia-Ying Lee, a scientist at the International Research Institute for Climate and Society, studies the structure and intensity evolution of tropical cyclones and how these are influenced by climate change.

Collage of Turkiye beach scene and Columbia University Campus with text: UN Climate Change Conference COP31, Antalya, Turkiye, Nov 9-20, 2026

COP31, the 2026 United Nations Climate Change Conference, aims to advance dialogue, strengthen consensus, and accelerate climate action on a global scale. From November 9–20, 2026 in Antalya, Türkiye, heads of state, ministers, scientists, business leaders, and civil society will gather to advance efforts in emission targets, climate finance, and adaptation and resilience. Once again, our experts, students, and global thought leaders from Columbia Climate School and across Columbia University are contributing to key events, sharing insights, and helping shape the dialogue toward ambitious, science-based solutions. Learn More

  • Finishing the GPS Scouting

    Finishing the GPS Scouting

    We drove through the hills of Sylhet passed rice fields and tea plantations, and through woods looking for appropriate spots to install our GPS systems.

  • Primary Schools to the Rescue

    Primary Schools to the Rescue

    Up ahead was a school, perfect for a GPS installation. Schools proved to be the best sites in the hills, which we covered in either tea plantations or woods.

  • Installing the First Two GPS Sites

    Installing the First Two GPS Sites

    From our base in Srimongal, now came the challenging work of finding appropriate locations to install the GPS. It requires a combination of the right tectonic setting and reinforced concrete buildings.

  • Fellowship of the Seismometers

    Fellowship of the Seismometers

    I am back in Bangladesh to start deployment of seismometers and GPS for a large new project that crosses 3 countries: Bangladesh, India and Myanmar.

  • Scientists Find Strong Link Between Climate Change and Wildfires

    Scientists Find Strong Link Between Climate Change and Wildfires

    High school students in a science communication class blog about research from Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory.

  • Fire Modeling: A New Approach to Wildfire Prevention

    Fire Modeling: A New Approach to Wildfire Prevention

    High school students in a science communication class blog about research from Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory.

  • Why People Often Don’t Properly Prepare for Hurricanes

    Why People Often Don’t Properly Prepare for Hurricanes

    A new study looks at the mental biases that prevent people from taking adequate safety measures when a hurricane is on the way.

  • Breaking New Ground in Hurricane Modeling

    Breaking New Ground in Hurricane Modeling

    Researchers create first model for hurricane hazard assessment that is both open source and capable of accounting for climate change.

  • Improving Tropical Cyclone Risk Assessment

    Improving Tropical Cyclone Risk Assessment

    Chia-Ying Lee, a scientist at the International Research Institute for Climate and Society, studies the structure and intensity evolution of tropical cyclones and how these are influenced by climate change.