Galen McKinley
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Lamont Researchers Receive Major Earth Science Honors from the American Geophysical Union
Five Lamont scientists received major 2026 honors recognizing research on sea-level change, ocean carbon uptake, seafloor mapping and Earth’s deep interior. William B. F. Ryan receives the Maurice Ewing Medal; Jacqueline Austermann, Gisela Winckler and Galen McKinley receive AGU distinctions, while Renata Wentzcovitch is named a Distinguished Lecturer.
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Robot Sailboats Will Spend Five Years Measuring Carbon in the Southern Ocean
Led by researchers at NOAA and Columbia University, the Constraining Ocean Carbon with Optimized Observing (COCO2) project will use uncrewed surface vehicles to reduce uncertainty in estimates of the ocean carbon sink.
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New Report: Ocean Carbon Removal Shows Promise, But Big Questions Remain
Marine carbon dioxide removal could support climate action but faces major scientific, technical and governance challenges, according to a National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine report.
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Columbia Will Co-Lead Major Project To Study Global Carbon Cycle
Awarded by Schmidt Sciences, a new grant will provide up to $45 million to four interdisciplinary teams of researchers who will seek to improve climate modeling across land, air and sea.
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The Ocean Carbon Sink Is Ailing
Measurements analyzed by an international research team indicate the global ocean absorbed significantly less CO₂ than anticipated during the unprecedented marine heatwave in 2023.
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How Much Carbon Can the Ocean Hold? Lamont Researchers Aim To Find Out
Galen McKinley and her research group are quantifying how much carbon the ocean removes from the atmosphere—and how much it fluctuates—to better understand climate change.

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
