State of the Planet

News from the Columbia Climate School

deep sea

  • Scientists Warn of Wide Impacts on Midwaters Around Deep-Sea Mining Sites

    Scientists Warn of Wide Impacts on Midwaters Around Deep-Sea Mining Sites

    Interest in deep-sea mining for metals has grown substantially in the last decade. A new study argues that it poses significant risks not only to the immediate surroundings, but also to the water hundreds to thousands of feet above the seafloor.

  • Deep Sea Mining: Out of Sight, Out of Mind?

    Deep Sea Mining: Out of Sight, Out of Mind?

    Are we willing to compromise deep sea ecosystems and biodiversity for prodigious amounts of mineral materials? Will deep sea mining have the largest footprint of any single human activity on the planet? The race is on to create more progressive, environmental regulations concerning deep sea mining, but much more scientific research is still necessary to…

  • Climate Swings Have Brought Great CO2 Pulses Up From the Deep Sea

    A study released on May 11, 2007 provides some of the first solid evidence that warming-induced changes in ocean circulation at the end of the last Ice Age caused vast quantities of ancient carbon dioxide to belch from the deep sea into the atmosphere. Scientists believe the carbon dioxide (CO2) releases helped propel the world…

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!

  • Scientists Warn of Wide Impacts on Midwaters Around Deep-Sea Mining Sites

    Scientists Warn of Wide Impacts on Midwaters Around Deep-Sea Mining Sites

    Interest in deep-sea mining for metals has grown substantially in the last decade. A new study argues that it poses significant risks not only to the immediate surroundings, but also to the water hundreds to thousands of feet above the seafloor.

  • Deep Sea Mining: Out of Sight, Out of Mind?

    Deep Sea Mining: Out of Sight, Out of Mind?

    Are we willing to compromise deep sea ecosystems and biodiversity for prodigious amounts of mineral materials? Will deep sea mining have the largest footprint of any single human activity on the planet? The race is on to create more progressive, environmental regulations concerning deep sea mining, but much more scientific research is still necessary to…

  • Climate Swings Have Brought Great CO2 Pulses Up From the Deep Sea

    A study released on May 11, 2007 provides some of the first solid evidence that warming-induced changes in ocean circulation at the end of the last Ice Age caused vast quantities of ancient carbon dioxide to belch from the deep sea into the atmosphere. Scientists believe the carbon dioxide (CO2) releases helped propel the world…