State of the Planet

News from the Columbia Climate School

Landscape view of mountains in Alaska with glacier in valleys.

Glaciers

Glaciers are massive, slow-moving bodies of ice that form over centuries from compacted snowfall. Glaciers are highly sensitive to temperature changes, and many are shrinking rapidly due to climate change. This melting contributes to rising sea levels and disrupts ecosystems and water sources for millions of people. Scientific research on glaciers focuses on understanding their dynamics, monitoring their changes, and predicting the impacts of glacier loss on both local and global scales. Protecting glaciers is critical for maintaining climate stability and water security. Fore more see below.


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Upcoming Events

  • Wednesday, March 25, 2026 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM Where: Monell Building, 61 Route 9W, Palisades, NY 10964 Description: Earth’s ice is changing rapidly, with consequences that reach far beyond the polar regions. From rising seas that threaten coastal communities to shrinking mountain glaciers that provide freshwater to millions, these changes impact everyone.   On March 25th, Professor Joerg Schaefer will explore how fast ice is melting, where it is […]

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