State of the Planet

News from the Columbia Climate School

Earth Sciences127

  • Lessons from the Japan Earthquake

    Lessons from the Japan Earthquake

    The jolt in Japan stunned even scientists who’ve studied earthquakes all their lives.

  • Flying Over the Arctic, Collecting Data and Enjoying the View

    Flying Over the Arctic, Collecting Data and Enjoying the View

    By Brian Moses This past week, Operation IceBridge undertook a detailed survey of the ICEX camp, situated on the ice sheet north of Alaska. This complex 3 day mission involves a transit to Fairbanks, AK over the top of the world, refueling in Fairbanks and flying the survey on day two, and a low-altitude nighttime…

  • Improving Climate Prediction in Africa

    Improving Climate Prediction in Africa

    Africa lags the developed world in weather stations but still produces a surprising amount of data. Too bad few people are using it. Scientists at Columbia University and a growing number of others—among them Bill Gates and the charity arm of Google—are pushing to open Africa’s climate archive to the world by making it free.…

  • IceBridge Team Settles in the North

    IceBridge Team Settles in the North

    Operation IceBridge has returned to the Arctic for a second Greenland season collecting critical measurements of Arctic sea ice cover and thickness and Greenland’s coastal outlet glaciers. Traveling on a DC8 outfitted as a cargo plane with only 6 rows of seats, the team flew from Baltimore MD to Thule in northern Greenland. The workhorse…

  • Apply Now for Summer Ecosystem Experience for Undergraduates (SEE-U)

    Apply Now for Summer Ecosystem Experience for Undergraduates (SEE-U)

    The Summer Ecosystem Experiences for Undergraduates (SEE-U) program provides undergraduate students of all majors from all accredited colleges or universities with a global understanding of ecology and environmental sustainability. It provides students with the opportunity to conduct fieldwork in unique natural settings in addition to participation in a combination of classroom lectures and lab work.

  • Still Time to Apply for Certificate in Conservation and Environmental Sustainability Program

    Still Time to Apply for Certificate in Conservation and Environmental Sustainability Program

    There is still time to apply for classes in Module 3 of the Certificate in Conservation and Environmental Sustainability Program.

  • Done in Khulna, back to Dhaka and then home

    Done in Khulna, back to Dhaka and then home

    On Saturday, we finished up work at the site.  Even at the last minute, it threw some challenges at us.  We began the day with out reduced group eating breakfast down the street.  We could no longer take the mediocre food at the hotel.  Dhiman and Babu had been eating there for days.  Besides paratha,…

  • Finishing up in Khulna

    Finishing up in Khulna

    The last two days have been a little different as I spent much of them in Khulna rather than at the site. Since the Islam family does not have electricity, Hafizul would have to carry the expensive EDM (Electronic Distance Meter) and laptop back and forth to Khulna University to charge. However, we have an…

  • Climate News Roundup: Week of 3/06

    Climate News Roundup: Week of 3/06

    NASA Reels From Climate Science Setbacks, AFP, Mar. 6 NASA’s $424 million Glory satellite, meant to monitor aerosols and solar radiation, crashed into the Pacific last week. Climate scientists were relying on the satellite data to fill critical information gaps. The accident comes at an inopportune time, as Congress is in the process of determining…

Blue banner with kids and Earth photos. Text: "Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory Open House, Saturday, October 17, 2026, 10am-4pm.

On Saturday, October 17, 2026 from 10am to 4pm, Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory Open House—our biggest, best science fun and discovery event of the year—will take place on our beautiful campus in Palisades, NY. Mark your calendar and join us for this free, family-friendly celebration of science! RSVP Today!

  • Lessons from the Japan Earthquake

    Lessons from the Japan Earthquake

    The jolt in Japan stunned even scientists who’ve studied earthquakes all their lives.

  • Flying Over the Arctic, Collecting Data and Enjoying the View

    Flying Over the Arctic, Collecting Data and Enjoying the View

    By Brian Moses This past week, Operation IceBridge undertook a detailed survey of the ICEX camp, situated on the ice sheet north of Alaska. This complex 3 day mission involves a transit to Fairbanks, AK over the top of the world, refueling in Fairbanks and flying the survey on day two, and a low-altitude nighttime…

  • Improving Climate Prediction in Africa

    Improving Climate Prediction in Africa

    Africa lags the developed world in weather stations but still produces a surprising amount of data. Too bad few people are using it. Scientists at Columbia University and a growing number of others—among them Bill Gates and the charity arm of Google—are pushing to open Africa’s climate archive to the world by making it free.…

  • IceBridge Team Settles in the North

    IceBridge Team Settles in the North

    Operation IceBridge has returned to the Arctic for a second Greenland season collecting critical measurements of Arctic sea ice cover and thickness and Greenland’s coastal outlet glaciers. Traveling on a DC8 outfitted as a cargo plane with only 6 rows of seats, the team flew from Baltimore MD to Thule in northern Greenland. The workhorse…

  • Apply Now for Summer Ecosystem Experience for Undergraduates (SEE-U)

    Apply Now for Summer Ecosystem Experience for Undergraduates (SEE-U)

    The Summer Ecosystem Experiences for Undergraduates (SEE-U) program provides undergraduate students of all majors from all accredited colleges or universities with a global understanding of ecology and environmental sustainability. It provides students with the opportunity to conduct fieldwork in unique natural settings in addition to participation in a combination of classroom lectures and lab work.

  • Still Time to Apply for Certificate in Conservation and Environmental Sustainability Program

    Still Time to Apply for Certificate in Conservation and Environmental Sustainability Program

    There is still time to apply for classes in Module 3 of the Certificate in Conservation and Environmental Sustainability Program.

  • Done in Khulna, back to Dhaka and then home

    Done in Khulna, back to Dhaka and then home

    On Saturday, we finished up work at the site.  Even at the last minute, it threw some challenges at us.  We began the day with out reduced group eating breakfast down the street.  We could no longer take the mediocre food at the hotel.  Dhiman and Babu had been eating there for days.  Besides paratha,…

  • Finishing up in Khulna

    Finishing up in Khulna

    The last two days have been a little different as I spent much of them in Khulna rather than at the site. Since the Islam family does not have electricity, Hafizul would have to carry the expensive EDM (Electronic Distance Meter) and laptop back and forth to Khulna University to charge. However, we have an…

  • Climate News Roundup: Week of 3/06

    Climate News Roundup: Week of 3/06

    NASA Reels From Climate Science Setbacks, AFP, Mar. 6 NASA’s $424 million Glory satellite, meant to monitor aerosols and solar radiation, crashed into the Pacific last week. Climate scientists were relying on the satellite data to fill critical information gaps. The accident comes at an inopportune time, as Congress is in the process of determining…