State of the Planet

News from the Columbia Climate School

Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory110

  • Researchers Model Differences in East Coast Sea Level Rise

    Researchers Model Differences in East Coast Sea Level Rise

    For years, scientists have been warning of a so-called “hot spot” of accelerated sea-level rise along the northeastern U.S. coast. But accurately modeling this acceleration as well as variations in sea-level rise from one region to another has proven challenging. Now new research offers the first comprehensive model for understanding differences in sea level rise…

  • Why I Decided to Stand Up for Climate Science

    Why I Decided to Stand Up for Climate Science

    A young researcher explains why she is taking to advocacy for science.

  • The Glaciers Are Going

    The Glaciers Are Going

    Glaciers around the world have retreated at unprecedented rates and some have disappeared altogether. The melting of glaciers will affect drinking water supplies, water needed to grow food and supply energy, as well as global sea levels.

  • Water Is Streaming Across Antarctica

    Water Is Streaming Across Antarctica

    In the first such continent-wide survey, scientists have found extensive drainages of meltwater flowing over parts of Antarctica’s ice during the brief summer. Many of the newly mapped drainages are not new, but the fact they exist at all is significant; they appear to proliferate with small upswings in temperature, so warming projected for this…

  • Webcast Today: Rich and Poor, and the Essence of El Niño

    Webcast Today: Rich and Poor, and the Essence of El Niño

    How does El Niño work, and how does it affect our climate, food supplies and water availability? The two men whose scientific work has been key to solving these puzzles will be honored Wednesday with the Vetlesen Prize, marking a major achievement in Earth sciences. And this afternoon, they’ll have something to say about it…

  • Our Economy Depends on Earth Observation and Scientific Research

    Our Economy Depends on Earth Observation and Scientific Research

    If we are to continue to grow our economy without destroying the planet’s basic systems that sustain human life, we need to learn a great deal more about our planet and the impact of human activities on natural systems.

  • Pratigya Polissar Sees Landscapes Changing Through a Microscope

    Pratigya Polissar Sees Landscapes Changing Through a Microscope

    The word fossils typically conjures images of T-Rexes and trilobites. Pratigya Polissar thinks micro: A paleoclimatologist, he digs into old sediments and studies molecular fossils—the microscopic remains of plants and animals that can tell us a lot about what was living in a particular time period.

  • Kirsty Tinto: Mapping on and under Antarctica’s Ice

    Kirsty Tinto: Mapping on and under Antarctica’s Ice

    Kirsty Tinto flies aboard a specially equipped airplane in very cold places to study ice sheets and ice shelves. She’s an associate research scientist in the polar geophysics group at Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory.

  • Park Williams Discovers History and Science in a Tree Ring

    Park Williams Discovers History and Science in a Tree Ring

    Park Williams studies trees and climate, in particular the causes of drought and the effects of climate change on forests. In this latest in a series of Earth Institute videos, we spoke to him about what he does, what’s important about it, and how his interest in history and environmental science blended into a career.

Photo of the Earth from space with the text "Lamont at AGU25" on top.

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

  • Researchers Model Differences in East Coast Sea Level Rise

    Researchers Model Differences in East Coast Sea Level Rise

    For years, scientists have been warning of a so-called “hot spot” of accelerated sea-level rise along the northeastern U.S. coast. But accurately modeling this acceleration as well as variations in sea-level rise from one region to another has proven challenging. Now new research offers the first comprehensive model for understanding differences in sea level rise…

  • Why I Decided to Stand Up for Climate Science

    Why I Decided to Stand Up for Climate Science

    A young researcher explains why she is taking to advocacy for science.

  • The Glaciers Are Going

    The Glaciers Are Going

    Glaciers around the world have retreated at unprecedented rates and some have disappeared altogether. The melting of glaciers will affect drinking water supplies, water needed to grow food and supply energy, as well as global sea levels.

  • Water Is Streaming Across Antarctica

    Water Is Streaming Across Antarctica

    In the first such continent-wide survey, scientists have found extensive drainages of meltwater flowing over parts of Antarctica’s ice during the brief summer. Many of the newly mapped drainages are not new, but the fact they exist at all is significant; they appear to proliferate with small upswings in temperature, so warming projected for this…

  • Webcast Today: Rich and Poor, and the Essence of El Niño

    Webcast Today: Rich and Poor, and the Essence of El Niño

    How does El Niño work, and how does it affect our climate, food supplies and water availability? The two men whose scientific work has been key to solving these puzzles will be honored Wednesday with the Vetlesen Prize, marking a major achievement in Earth sciences. And this afternoon, they’ll have something to say about it…

  • Our Economy Depends on Earth Observation and Scientific Research

    Our Economy Depends on Earth Observation and Scientific Research

    If we are to continue to grow our economy without destroying the planet’s basic systems that sustain human life, we need to learn a great deal more about our planet and the impact of human activities on natural systems.

  • Pratigya Polissar Sees Landscapes Changing Through a Microscope

    Pratigya Polissar Sees Landscapes Changing Through a Microscope

    The word fossils typically conjures images of T-Rexes and trilobites. Pratigya Polissar thinks micro: A paleoclimatologist, he digs into old sediments and studies molecular fossils—the microscopic remains of plants and animals that can tell us a lot about what was living in a particular time period.

  • Kirsty Tinto: Mapping on and under Antarctica’s Ice

    Kirsty Tinto: Mapping on and under Antarctica’s Ice

    Kirsty Tinto flies aboard a specially equipped airplane in very cold places to study ice sheets and ice shelves. She’s an associate research scientist in the polar geophysics group at Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory.

  • Park Williams Discovers History and Science in a Tree Ring

    Park Williams Discovers History and Science in a Tree Ring

    Park Williams studies trees and climate, in particular the causes of drought and the effects of climate change on forests. In this latest in a series of Earth Institute videos, we spoke to him about what he does, what’s important about it, and how his interest in history and environmental science blended into a career.