State of the Planet

News from the Columbia Climate School

Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory116

  • The Coming Great Quakes in India and Bangladesh?

    The Coming Great Quakes in India and Bangladesh?

    A new film takes viewers from the eastern highlands of India to the booming lowland metropolis of Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh–and explores an ever-more detailed picture of catastrophic earthquake threat that scientists are discovering under the region.

  • Getting Hands-On with Science at Lamont: Open House 2016

    Getting Hands-On with Science at Lamont: Open House 2016

    Thousands of visitors toured the labs and crowded around demonstrations at Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory’s Open House on Saturday, often jumping in to help.

  • Lamont’s Robin Bell Chosen as AGU President-Elect

    Lamont’s Robin Bell Chosen as AGU President-Elect

    The American Geophysical Union election results are in, and three Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory scientists will be taking key leadership roles in the internationally influential Earth and space sciences organization.

  • What Happens to Ecosystems When Antarctica’s Ice Melts?

    What Happens to Ecosystems When Antarctica’s Ice Melts?

    A special section in the October issue of BioScience featuring research by Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory scientists examines the effects of intense melting on two Antarctic ecosystems, tracking impacts all the way from microbial food webs to shifting penguin populations.

  • Ancient Leaves Link Loss of Antarctic Ice to a CO2 Spike

    Ancient Leaves Link Loss of Antarctic Ice to a CO2 Spike

    Twenty-three million years ago, the Antarctic Ice Sheet began to shrink, going from an expanse larger than today’s to one about half its modern size. Ancient fossilized leaves retrieved from a lake bed in New Zealand now show for the first time that carbon dioxide levels increased dramatically over a relatively short period of time…

  • Rising Temperatures Load the Dice for Megadrought Risk

    Rising Temperatures Load the Dice for Megadrought Risk

    As the American Southwest grows hotter, the risk of severe, long-lasting megadroughts rises, passing 90 percent this century if greenhouse gas emissions continue at their current pace, a new study from scientists at Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory says. Aggressively reducing emissions can cut that risk.

  • Bob Newton: Building the Next Generation of Scientists

    Bob Newton: Building the Next Generation of Scientists

    Bob Newton, an oceanographer who leads the SSFRP, an intensive summer fieldwork program for high school students at Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, just won Lamont’s 2016 Excellence in Mentoring Award. His students explain how he has changed their lives.

  • Red Flags Over the Arctic’s Future

    Red Flags Over the Arctic’s Future

    A new white paper reviews climate impacts already underway in the Arctic, and examines further changes expected to take place even if the world meets the goals of the Paris Agreement. It will be presented today at a meeting at the White House of national-level science ministers and advisors from around the world.

  • Listening to Earthquakes – From Inside the Earth

    Listening to Earthquakes – From Inside the Earth

    Lamont scientist Ben Holtzman and the Seismic Sound Lab take viewers on an entirely new sensory experience to see, hear and feel earthquakes from inside the planet.

Composite banner with modern building at night and portrait of Dean Alexis Abramson that reads "Science for the Planet"

By studying thousands of buildings and analyzing their electricity use, Columbia Climate School Dean Alexis Abramson has been able to uncover ways to significantly cut energy consumption and emissions. Watch the Video: “Engineering a Cooler Future Through Smarter Buildings

  • The Coming Great Quakes in India and Bangladesh?

    The Coming Great Quakes in India and Bangladesh?

    A new film takes viewers from the eastern highlands of India to the booming lowland metropolis of Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh–and explores an ever-more detailed picture of catastrophic earthquake threat that scientists are discovering under the region.

  • Getting Hands-On with Science at Lamont: Open House 2016

    Getting Hands-On with Science at Lamont: Open House 2016

    Thousands of visitors toured the labs and crowded around demonstrations at Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory’s Open House on Saturday, often jumping in to help.

  • Lamont’s Robin Bell Chosen as AGU President-Elect

    Lamont’s Robin Bell Chosen as AGU President-Elect

    The American Geophysical Union election results are in, and three Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory scientists will be taking key leadership roles in the internationally influential Earth and space sciences organization.

  • What Happens to Ecosystems When Antarctica’s Ice Melts?

    What Happens to Ecosystems When Antarctica’s Ice Melts?

    A special section in the October issue of BioScience featuring research by Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory scientists examines the effects of intense melting on two Antarctic ecosystems, tracking impacts all the way from microbial food webs to shifting penguin populations.

  • Ancient Leaves Link Loss of Antarctic Ice to a CO2 Spike

    Ancient Leaves Link Loss of Antarctic Ice to a CO2 Spike

    Twenty-three million years ago, the Antarctic Ice Sheet began to shrink, going from an expanse larger than today’s to one about half its modern size. Ancient fossilized leaves retrieved from a lake bed in New Zealand now show for the first time that carbon dioxide levels increased dramatically over a relatively short period of time…

  • Rising Temperatures Load the Dice for Megadrought Risk

    Rising Temperatures Load the Dice for Megadrought Risk

    As the American Southwest grows hotter, the risk of severe, long-lasting megadroughts rises, passing 90 percent this century if greenhouse gas emissions continue at their current pace, a new study from scientists at Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory says. Aggressively reducing emissions can cut that risk.

  • Bob Newton: Building the Next Generation of Scientists

    Bob Newton: Building the Next Generation of Scientists

    Bob Newton, an oceanographer who leads the SSFRP, an intensive summer fieldwork program for high school students at Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, just won Lamont’s 2016 Excellence in Mentoring Award. His students explain how he has changed their lives.

  • Red Flags Over the Arctic’s Future

    Red Flags Over the Arctic’s Future

    A new white paper reviews climate impacts already underway in the Arctic, and examines further changes expected to take place even if the world meets the goals of the Paris Agreement. It will be presented today at a meeting at the White House of national-level science ministers and advisors from around the world.

  • Listening to Earthquakes – From Inside the Earth

    Listening to Earthquakes – From Inside the Earth

    Lamont scientist Ben Holtzman and the Seismic Sound Lab take viewers on an entirely new sensory experience to see, hear and feel earthquakes from inside the planet.