Natural Disasters40
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Recovery from Hurricane Harvey Could Take 15 Years
The director of Columbia’s National Center for Disaster Preparedness weighs in on the heartbreaking devastation in Texas.
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How did Hurricane Harvey Become so Powerful, so Quickly?
Over the past day and a half, Hurricane Harvey’s winds have quickened from about 35 to 109 miles per hour. What’s driving this massive power-up?
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Hurricane Harvey: Resources for Journalists
Earth Institute experts are on-hand to answer media questions about hurricane physics, rapid intensification, emergency response, and more.
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How Will Climate Change Impact Shelter?
In this video, Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory researchers Robin Bell, Radley Horton, and Adam Sobel explain their research and how it can help improve adaptation practices and make our homes, livelihoods, and the systems we rely on more resilient to extreme weather and sea level rise.
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Defining and Predicting Heat Waves in Bangladesh
New research shows that in Bangladesh, heat wave predictability exists from a few days to several weeks in advance, which could save thousands of lives.
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New Images From Under Alaska Seafloor Suggest High Tsunami Danger
Scientists probing under the seafloor off Alaska have mapped a geologic structure that they say signals potential for a major tsunami in an area that normally would be considered benign.
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Project Uses Satellites for Rapid Assessment of Flood Response Costs
Overall global losses from natural disasters such as floods, landslides or earthquakes amount to about $300 billion annually. A rapid and early response is key to immediately address the loss of human life, property, infrastructure and business activity.
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Rising Temperatures Lead to Increased Fire Risk in Indonesia
A new paper shows that rising temperatures have increased the risk of fires even during non-drought years in Indonesia, possibly making mild fire seasons in the country a thing of the past.
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Oroville Dam Crisis is a Call to Action on U.S. Water Infrastructure
Columbia Water Center director Upmanu Lall suggests that we see the Oroville crisis as a call to action to evaluate and address the challenges facing the nation’s dam infrastructure.
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
