fresh water
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Five Things the Energy Transition Can’t Do Without
Achieving the energy transition will take money, minerals, land, water, and skilled labor. Will we have enough of each?
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A 1,000 Year Drought is Hitting the West. Could Desalination Be a Solution?
Filtering salt out of water is used in many parts of the world that deal with severe drought, but it can come with its own set of problems.
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As Climate Warms, Plants May Demand More Water, Cutting Supplies for People
New study challenges many climate scientists’ expectations that plants will make much of the world wetter in the future.
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Scientists Map Huge Undersea Fresh-Water Aquifer Off U.S. Northeast
In a new survey of the sub-seafloor off the U.S. Northeast coast, scientists have made a surprising discovery: a gigantic aquifer of relatively fresh water trapped in porous sediments lying below the salty ocean.
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Drought: A Wide-Angle Picture
A new book, the second in a series of primers with the Earth Institute imprint, provides an interdisciplinary overview drought, bringing together many fields including climate science, hydrology and ecology.
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How Road Salt Harms the Environment
Recent research indicates that salt is accumulating in the environment and poses an emerging threat both to ecosystems and human health.
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Researchers Map High Levels of Drugs in the Hudson River
In a new study, researchers have mapped out a large variety of discarded pharmaceuticals dissolved throughout the Hudson River. They say that in some places, levels may be high enough to potentially affect aquatic life.
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Keeping our Freshwater Fresh: Ecosystem Management Tools
We have been harming our hard-earned water resources; is it too late to clean up our act? With the help of the nine principles of ecology we can work towards effectively and sustainably managing these ecosystems, which will help us preserve the quality of New York’s freshwater resources and maintain our high quality drinking water.
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Have We Crossed the 9 Planetary Boundaries?
“The world needs to awaken itself to the looming catastrophe of global warming,” said Jeffrey Sachs, Director of the Earth Institute, at a recent meeting in Muscat. “We must provide a safe operating space where vested interest and lobby-driven policies will not see the world marching into disaster.”
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
