State of the Planet

News from the Columbia Climate School

Earth Sciences97

  • The Impact of Sea Level Rise on Coastal Wetlands

    The Impact of Sea Level Rise on Coastal Wetlands

    An analysis of coastal wetlands loss from sea level rise that was conducted for the Ramsar Convention’s Scientific and Technical Review Panel provides estimates of wetland losses as a basis for identifying potential adaptation measures.

  • Transiting the Pacific

    Transiting the Pacific

    Today marks our sixth day aboard the R.V. Melville on a journey to a remote region of the Pacific to retrieve seismic instruments that have been quietly recording earthquake signals on the ocean floor for the past year. We have covered more than 2,600 km thus far but must cruise for another two and a…

  • One Year Later – Return to the NoMelt Site

    One Year Later – Return to the NoMelt Site

    On December 18, 2012, the Research Vessel Melville departed San Diego to recover remainder of the NoMelt instruments and data. The expedition includes two scientists from Columbia’s Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory: Post-doctoral scientist Patty Lin and graduate student Natalie Accardo. Natalie is sending regular reports from the ship.

  • Smaller Colorado River Projected for Coming Decades, Study Says

    Smaller Colorado River Projected for Coming Decades, Study Says

    Some 40 million people depend on the Colorado River Basin for water but warmer weather from rising greenhouse gas levels and a growing population may signal water shortages ahead.

  • Using Spatial Analysis to Help Manage Conflict

    Using Spatial Analysis to Help Manage Conflict

    Peri-urban areas are particularly vulnerable to land use conflicts due to their geographic and socio-economic characteristics: They are transitional zones in transforming societies, where various economic activities associated with each urban setting try to co-exist. In this context, peri-urban agriculture plays a key role for the multiplicity and diversity of stakeholders providing environmental and economic…

  • New Understanding of Soil Quality throughout Africa

    New Understanding of Soil Quality throughout Africa

    A new interactive mapping tool lets users visualize a broad range of soil data for the continent of Africa.

  • Clues from Last Ice Age May Hint at Drying Ahead for Some Regions

    Clues from Last Ice Age May Hint at Drying Ahead for Some Regions

    In the spectacular collapse of ice sheets as the last ice age ended about 18,000 years ago scientists hope to find clues for what regions may grow drier from human caused global warming. In a talk Thursday at the American Geophysical Union’s annual meeting, Aaron Putnam, a postdoctoral scholar at Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, painted a…

  • Huge Landslide Linked to Glacier Surge in Tajikstan’s Pamir Mountains

    Huge Landslide Linked to Glacier Surge in Tajikstan’s Pamir Mountains

    Glaciers advance in colder temperatures, but sometimes a big rock avalanche can also make a glacier grow, new research results presented at the American Geophysical Union’s annual meeting suggests.

  • How the Warming Arctic Affects Us All

    How the Warming Arctic Affects Us All

    The Arctic may seem remote, but the overall rate of global warming, our climate and weather, sea levels, and many ecosystems and species will be affected by the warming that is occurring there.

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 Impact of Sea Level Rise on Coastal Wetlands

    The Impact of Sea Level Rise on Coastal Wetlands

    An analysis of coastal wetlands loss from sea level rise that was conducted for the Ramsar Convention’s Scientific and Technical Review Panel provides estimates of wetland losses as a basis for identifying potential adaptation measures.

  • Transiting the Pacific

    Transiting the Pacific

    Today marks our sixth day aboard the R.V. Melville on a journey to a remote region of the Pacific to retrieve seismic instruments that have been quietly recording earthquake signals on the ocean floor for the past year. We have covered more than 2,600 km thus far but must cruise for another two and a…

  • One Year Later – Return to the NoMelt Site

    One Year Later – Return to the NoMelt Site

    On December 18, 2012, the Research Vessel Melville departed San Diego to recover remainder of the NoMelt instruments and data. The expedition includes two scientists from Columbia’s Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory: Post-doctoral scientist Patty Lin and graduate student Natalie Accardo. Natalie is sending regular reports from the ship.

  • Smaller Colorado River Projected for Coming Decades, Study Says

    Smaller Colorado River Projected for Coming Decades, Study Says

    Some 40 million people depend on the Colorado River Basin for water but warmer weather from rising greenhouse gas levels and a growing population may signal water shortages ahead.

  • Using Spatial Analysis to Help Manage Conflict

    Using Spatial Analysis to Help Manage Conflict

    Peri-urban areas are particularly vulnerable to land use conflicts due to their geographic and socio-economic characteristics: They are transitional zones in transforming societies, where various economic activities associated with each urban setting try to co-exist. In this context, peri-urban agriculture plays a key role for the multiplicity and diversity of stakeholders providing environmental and economic…

  • New Understanding of Soil Quality throughout Africa

    New Understanding of Soil Quality throughout Africa

    A new interactive mapping tool lets users visualize a broad range of soil data for the continent of Africa.

  • Clues from Last Ice Age May Hint at Drying Ahead for Some Regions

    Clues from Last Ice Age May Hint at Drying Ahead for Some Regions

    In the spectacular collapse of ice sheets as the last ice age ended about 18,000 years ago scientists hope to find clues for what regions may grow drier from human caused global warming. In a talk Thursday at the American Geophysical Union’s annual meeting, Aaron Putnam, a postdoctoral scholar at Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, painted a…

  • Huge Landslide Linked to Glacier Surge in Tajikstan’s Pamir Mountains

    Huge Landslide Linked to Glacier Surge in Tajikstan’s Pamir Mountains

    Glaciers advance in colder temperatures, but sometimes a big rock avalanche can also make a glacier grow, new research results presented at the American Geophysical Union’s annual meeting suggests.

  • How the Warming Arctic Affects Us All

    How the Warming Arctic Affects Us All

    The Arctic may seem remote, but the overall rate of global warming, our climate and weather, sea levels, and many ecosystems and species will be affected by the warming that is occurring there.