State of the Planet

News from the Columbia Climate School

Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory120

  • The Domino Effect

    The Domino Effect

    Ice shelves can behave like dominos. When they are lined up and the first one collapses it can cause a rippling effect like dominos. We have seen this with the Larsen Ice Shelves. Named in series, the Larsen A, B and C shelves extended along the northeastern edge of the West Antarctic Peninsula, and covered…

  • Rip in Crust Drives Undersea Volcanism, Says Study

    Earthquakes and Violent Sounds Under the Pacific Provide Clues

  • A First Meeting with an Old Friend

    A First Meeting with an Old Friend

    If you have studied the impacts of climate on Antarctica you have encountered Pine Island Glacier. Tucked in at an angle under the West Antarctic Peninsula handle, this seemingly innocuous glacier has been making headlines for years as one of the fastest flowing ice stream glaciers on Earth.

  • Year by Year, Line by Line, We Build an Image of Getz Ice Shelf

    Year by Year, Line by Line, We Build an Image of Getz Ice Shelf

    Changes in Antarctic ice have been dominated by the interaction of the ice and the ocean, and because ice shelves extend out into the water they are vulnerable to melt from the warmer ocean water. Melt can affect them in two ways, through thinning along their length and through causing a retreat of the “grounding…

  • Lamont Opens Doors to Earth Sciences at Open House

    Lamont Opens Doors to Earth Sciences at Open House

    Nearly 3,000 people showed up to explore the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory’s campus and laboratories at the open house on Oct. 8. Watch the video and find out what it was all about.

  • 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.

Banner with images representing environmental issues and text "You Asked: Our Scientists and Experts Answer Your Burning Questions."

You Asked invites you to share your most pressing questions about climate, science, and sustainability. Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory and Columbia Climate School experts will respond with clear, evidence-based answers. Pose your questions and story ideas!

  • The Domino Effect

    The Domino Effect

    Ice shelves can behave like dominos. When they are lined up and the first one collapses it can cause a rippling effect like dominos. We have seen this with the Larsen Ice Shelves. Named in series, the Larsen A, B and C shelves extended along the northeastern edge of the West Antarctic Peninsula, and covered…

  • Rip in Crust Drives Undersea Volcanism, Says Study

    Earthquakes and Violent Sounds Under the Pacific Provide Clues

  • A First Meeting with an Old Friend

    A First Meeting with an Old Friend

    If you have studied the impacts of climate on Antarctica you have encountered Pine Island Glacier. Tucked in at an angle under the West Antarctic Peninsula handle, this seemingly innocuous glacier has been making headlines for years as one of the fastest flowing ice stream glaciers on Earth.

  • Year by Year, Line by Line, We Build an Image of Getz Ice Shelf

    Year by Year, Line by Line, We Build an Image of Getz Ice Shelf

    Changes in Antarctic ice have been dominated by the interaction of the ice and the ocean, and because ice shelves extend out into the water they are vulnerable to melt from the warmer ocean water. Melt can affect them in two ways, through thinning along their length and through causing a retreat of the “grounding…

  • Lamont Opens Doors to Earth Sciences at Open House

    Lamont Opens Doors to Earth Sciences at Open House

    Nearly 3,000 people showed up to explore the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory’s campus and laboratories at the open house on Oct. 8. Watch the video and find out what it was all about.

  • 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.