State of the Planet

News from the Columbia Climate School

East Antarctic Ice Sheet

  • Antarctica’s Retreating Ice

    Antarctica’s Retreating Ice

    While the ice sheets on West Antarctica and the Antarctic Peninsula are usually the ones to make the news in relation to climate change, recent studies have documented transformations that are taking place on the East Antarctic Ice Sheet as well. On the continent as a whole, large areas of ice have already melted and…

  • This Bird Flies South for the Winter

    This Bird Flies South for the Winter

    Migrating south in the winter is a behavior that Antarctic scientists share with many species of birds, although the scientists fly just a bit further south. For the IcePod team it was time to join the migration so they could test their equipment in the most challenging environment the Earth has to offer.

  • Researchers Unravel Origins of Antarctica’s Ice-Covered Mountains

    ‘This work shows that very old mountains can rise again, like a Phoenix from the ashes’

Earth Month Graphic Collage: "Our Power, Our Planet - April 2025"

The first Earth Day in 1970 ignited a movement to stop polluting our planet. This Earth Month, join us in our commitment to realizing a just and sustainable future for our planet. Visit our Earth Day website for ideas, resources, and inspiration.

  • Antarctica’s Retreating Ice

    Antarctica’s Retreating Ice

    While the ice sheets on West Antarctica and the Antarctic Peninsula are usually the ones to make the news in relation to climate change, recent studies have documented transformations that are taking place on the East Antarctic Ice Sheet as well. On the continent as a whole, large areas of ice have already melted and…

  • This Bird Flies South for the Winter

    This Bird Flies South for the Winter

    Migrating south in the winter is a behavior that Antarctic scientists share with many species of birds, although the scientists fly just a bit further south. For the IcePod team it was time to join the migration so they could test their equipment in the most challenging environment the Earth has to offer.

  • Researchers Unravel Origins of Antarctica’s Ice-Covered Mountains

    ‘This work shows that very old mountains can rise again, like a Phoenix from the ashes’