State of the Planet

News from the Columbia Climate School

Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory147

  • The Story at the Bottom of the South China Sea

    The Story at the Bottom of the South China Sea

    We have drilled 2,600 feet below the sea floor and in another 500 feet, will reach the crystalline igneous basalt of the ocean crust. Though finding the age of the basalt is our main aim, the thick sediments that overly the crust also have a story to tell.

  • Drilling Deep into the South China Sea’s Past

    Drilling Deep into the South China Sea’s Past

    The J.R. has set sail from Hong Kong. Trevor Williams explains what his research team hopes to accomplish.

  • Earth’s Climate History, Written in Dust

    Earth’s Climate History, Written in Dust

    Dust blowing onto the oceans can help algae grow and pull CO2 out of the atmosphere. It influences the radiative balance of the planet by reflecting sunlight away. Scientists want to know what role this plays in the coming and going of the ice ages, and how it affects our climate.

  • The Noble Worm

    The Noble Worm

    A poem, first in a series based on what’s been in the news in science, from Katherine Allen, a researcher in geochemistry and paleoclimate at the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory.

  • New Initiative to Focus on Climate and Extreme Weather

    New Initiative to Focus on Climate and Extreme Weather

    Superstorm Sandy expert Adam Sobel is getting ready to launch a new initiative on extreme weather, thanks to a €250,000 two-year AXA Award in Climate and Extreme Weather he has just received from the AXA Research Fund.

  • Lamont-Doherty Dedicates New Geochemistry Facility

    Lamont-Doherty Dedicates New Geochemistry Facility

    In late 2013, the dream of creating a uniquely powerful facility for the Lamont-Doherty Geochemistry Division became a reality upon completion of the Comer Building’s Ultra Clean Laboratory. On the afternoon of November 20th, this new laboratory was dedicated in front of an audience of Observatory Advisory Board members, donors, scientists and other members of…

  • Can Eco-Tourism Lead to an ‘Eco-Civilization’?

    Can Eco-Tourism Lead to an ‘Eco-Civilization’?

    Does blending a group of respected business professionals, academics, spiritual leaders, media, policy specialists and artists in a custom eco-tourism experience provide a pathway to developing a passionate and committed group of individuals?

  • Explore the Arctic Ocean With ‘IceTracker’

    Explore the Arctic Ocean With ‘IceTracker’

    This week, we are launching a test of “IceTracker”—a tool that allows users to see the trajectories of Arctic sea ice forward or backward from any day between 1981 and 2012, as well as sea-ice speed, air temperature, water depth and the age of the sea ice.

  • The R/V Marcus G. Langseth: Ocean Explorer

    The R/V Marcus G. Langseth: Ocean Explorer

    The Marcus G. Langseth, a research vessel operated by Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, traverses the world’s oceans conducting marine seismic studies that contribute to new understanding of Earth systems. The ship typically spends half the year or more on research expeditions led by Lamont-Doherty scientists and colleagues from other research institutes.

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

  • The Story at the Bottom of the South China Sea

    The Story at the Bottom of the South China Sea

    We have drilled 2,600 feet below the sea floor and in another 500 feet, will reach the crystalline igneous basalt of the ocean crust. Though finding the age of the basalt is our main aim, the thick sediments that overly the crust also have a story to tell.

  • Drilling Deep into the South China Sea’s Past

    Drilling Deep into the South China Sea’s Past

    The J.R. has set sail from Hong Kong. Trevor Williams explains what his research team hopes to accomplish.

  • Earth’s Climate History, Written in Dust

    Earth’s Climate History, Written in Dust

    Dust blowing onto the oceans can help algae grow and pull CO2 out of the atmosphere. It influences the radiative balance of the planet by reflecting sunlight away. Scientists want to know what role this plays in the coming and going of the ice ages, and how it affects our climate.

  • The Noble Worm

    The Noble Worm

    A poem, first in a series based on what’s been in the news in science, from Katherine Allen, a researcher in geochemistry and paleoclimate at the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory.

  • New Initiative to Focus on Climate and Extreme Weather

    New Initiative to Focus on Climate and Extreme Weather

    Superstorm Sandy expert Adam Sobel is getting ready to launch a new initiative on extreme weather, thanks to a €250,000 two-year AXA Award in Climate and Extreme Weather he has just received from the AXA Research Fund.

  • Lamont-Doherty Dedicates New Geochemistry Facility

    Lamont-Doherty Dedicates New Geochemistry Facility

    In late 2013, the dream of creating a uniquely powerful facility for the Lamont-Doherty Geochemistry Division became a reality upon completion of the Comer Building’s Ultra Clean Laboratory. On the afternoon of November 20th, this new laboratory was dedicated in front of an audience of Observatory Advisory Board members, donors, scientists and other members of…

  • Can Eco-Tourism Lead to an ‘Eco-Civilization’?

    Can Eco-Tourism Lead to an ‘Eco-Civilization’?

    Does blending a group of respected business professionals, academics, spiritual leaders, media, policy specialists and artists in a custom eco-tourism experience provide a pathway to developing a passionate and committed group of individuals?

  • Explore the Arctic Ocean With ‘IceTracker’

    Explore the Arctic Ocean With ‘IceTracker’

    This week, we are launching a test of “IceTracker”—a tool that allows users to see the trajectories of Arctic sea ice forward or backward from any day between 1981 and 2012, as well as sea-ice speed, air temperature, water depth and the age of the sea ice.

  • The R/V Marcus G. Langseth: Ocean Explorer

    The R/V Marcus G. Langseth: Ocean Explorer

    The Marcus G. Langseth, a research vessel operated by Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, traverses the world’s oceans conducting marine seismic studies that contribute to new understanding of Earth systems. The ship typically spends half the year or more on research expeditions led by Lamont-Doherty scientists and colleagues from other research institutes.