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

  • Monday, February 2, 2026 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM Where: Seismology Building, 61 Route 9W, Palisades, NY 10964 Description: Presentation by Tamara Carley. What lies beneath retreating ice?  Nunataks reveal a young, diverse, history of rhyolitic volcanism at Þórðarhyrnaon the southern margin of Vatnajökull ice cap, Iceland Iceland is famous for its volcanoes, glaciers, and the complicated relationship between the two.  In the present study, rapidly retreating ice on the southern […]

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