A new study found that even as oak trees continue to photosynthesize late into the year, their growth stops by mid-summer. This decoupling between photosynthesis and growth suggests that increased carbon uptake may not translate to greater wood production, reducing long-term carbon storage in forests.
A new study found that dust from volcanic and ice-free regions replaced traditional sources, indicating a significant retreat of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet. The research suggests that sea levels could rise by three to five meters due to melting.
Researchers from Columbia University have developed a theory explaining how carbon dioxide cools the stratosphere, even as it warms Earth's surface and lower atmosphere. The study reveals that CO2 molecules interact with infrared light in a specific 'Goldilocks zone' that expands with increasing atmospheric CO2 levels.
The study found that the Turkana Rift has been significantly thinned, with the crust about 13 kilometers thick, compared to over 35 kilometers farther from the rift. This thinning is a sign of a process called 'necking' where the crust stretches and becomes weaker, promoting continued rifting.
A new study reveals a surprising link between West Antarctic Ice Sheet retreat and algae growth over the past 500,000 years. Iron-rich sediments from icebergs stimulate algae growth, but in a less bioavailable form than previously assumed.
A 20-year study of 11,000 adults in Bangladesh found that reducing arsenic levels in drinking water was associated with lower mortality rates from heart disease, cancer, and other chronic illnesses. The study provides the first long-term, individual-level evidence that reducing arsenic exposure may lower mortality even among people exp...
New research warns that solar radiation management through stratospheric aerosol injection (SAI) poses unforeseen challenges due to particle variability, geopolitical limitations, and economic strain. The study highlights the need for centralized coordination and careful consideration of alternative materials.
A new study reveals that 25 of the 28 most populous US cities are sinking, with some areas subsiding at rates of over 5 millimeters per year. The primary cause is massive ongoing groundwater extraction, which can lead to stresses on infrastructure and buildings.
The Columbia Climate School has launched a one-year master's degree program in Climate Finance, combining courses in climate science, adaptation, mitigation strategies, international climate finance, capital markets, and more. The program aims to equip students with financial decision-making skills needed to respond to the climate crisis.
A new study reveals that 75% of heat-related deaths in Mexico occur among people under 35, contrary to the assumption that elderly individuals are more susceptible. Young adults and small children are particularly vulnerable due to factors such as outdoor labor, limited access to air conditioning, and developing immune systems.
A recent study identifies 'heatwave hotspots' across the globe, with extreme temperatures breaking records and causing devastating effects. The phenomenon is not limited to specific regions, but its causes are still unclear, highlighting the complexity of climate change.
The Yixian Formation fossils in China are preserved due to rapid sedimentation and oxygen-free pockets, rather than volcanic events. The study's findings suggest that multiple periods of intense rainfall led to the burial of deceased creatures, preserving soft tissues.
A new study finds that volcanic eruptions triggered a sudden and devastating cooling event, causing mass extinctions in the Triassic period. The research contradicts previous theories that suggested increased carbon dioxide led to warming temperatures.
A magnitude 4.8 earthquake in New Jersey triggered widespread alarm, but surprisingly, the epicenter showed minimal damage, while distant areas like NYC and Virginia experienced stronger shaking. An analysis of Lg waves revealed a previously unmapped fault with complex strike-slip motion and thrust, affecting regional hazard assessments.
A new study found that certain tree species in NYC, such as oaks and sweetgums, produce high levels of isoprene, which interacts with nitrogen oxides to form ground-level ozone. This could lead to increased respiratory problems if current efforts to reduce nitrogen oxide emissions are not accelerated.
Researchers found that Rapa Nui's population remained stable and small, with a sustainable food system based on rock gardens where sweet potatoes were grown. The study challenges previous estimates of high population sizes and highlights the islanders' resilience in coping with limited resources.
A massive earthquake 2,500 years ago caused the Ganges River to change its course abruptly, affecting densely populated Bangladesh. The study suggests that a similar event could occur again in the future, with potentially devastating consequences.
A recent study improves earthquake and tsunami hazard assessment by revealing the Cascadia Subduction Zone's complex geometry. The zone is divided into four segments, each potentially insulated against movements, and has a megathrust fault that can trigger massive earthquakes and tsunamis.
A new study reveals the Antarctic Circumpolar Current's speedup is linked to Earth's temperature, slowing down during cold times and speeding up in warm ones. This suggests that today's speedup will continue as human-induced warming proceeds, potentially leading to ice loss and sea-level rise.
Researchers used a new technique to count tiny plastic particles in bottled water, finding an average of 240,000 detectable fragments per liter, 10 times greater than previous estimates. Nanoplastics, smaller than microplastics, can pass through the bloodstream and reach organs like the heart and brain.
A new study reveals that the last time atmospheric carbon dioxide reached today's human-driven levels was 14 million years ago, indicating a highly sensitive climate to greenhouse gases. The research also predicts a whopping 5-8 degrees C warming with a doubling of CO2, highlighting the urgent need for present-day climate policy.
A global study reveals that farmworkers in major crop regions are facing increasing exposure to extreme heat and humidity, which can impair their ability to function. The most affected crops are rice and maize, with nearly half of the world's rice cropland already experiencing extreme conditions during the planting and harvest seasons.
A new study finds that four out of five Miami-Dade County residents may face disruption or displacement due to sea-level rise, with lower-income people bearing the brunt. As habitable areas shrink and housing prices rise, only a small number of affluent residents can relocate, while many others are trapped in low-lying properties.
Researchers have identified a new pattern in the global jet stream that locks in extreme winter cold or wet conditions over North America and Europe. The study found that this pattern, known as wave-4, triples the chances of extreme cold or wet, while also causing abnormally warm or dry conditions.
A survey of Greenland's Indigenous population reveals they are highly aware of climate change, with 89% believing it's happening. However, only about 50% connect human influence to the changes, with education and cultural factors playing a significant role.
A new study of tree rings from the region shows that the event was almost certainly the worst in at least the past millennium. The research established a year-by-year record of summer average temperatures going back to 950, revealing scores of abnormally hot summers.
David Kohlstedt's lab recreated the mantle's conditions, observing microscopic changes and scaling up results to real-world size. This work underlies modern geophysics and has improved our understanding of earthquakes, volcanoes, and the planet's surface.
A new study reveals that New York City's vegetation absorbs up to 40% of the city's daily carbon emissions, outperforming transportation sources. The research uses hyper-local vegetation maps and fine-grained modeling to show that urban greenery plays a crucial role in the city's carbon cycle.
A new study confirms the link between climate change and the extreme 2021 heat wave, which set records in Canada and sparked devastating wildfires. The research reveals that human-induced warming has made such events increasingly feasible, with potential for repeats every 10 years by 2050.
A new study estimates the cost of a green transition in greenhouse gases, finding that building renewable infrastructure generates significant carbon emissions. However, speeding up the transition could dramatically decrease these emissions and limit warming to 2 degrees or even 1.5 degrees.
A recent study published in PLOS ONE found that most species are not receiving protection until their populations are precariously small, dimming their prospects of recovery. The study also highlights the issue of inadequate funding for protecting threatened and endangered species, which has persisted for decades.
A team of researchers identified a shipwreck off the coast of Patagonia as the Dolphin, a 19th-century whaling ship from Rhode Island. The discovery was made possible by the analysis of tree rings in the timbers, which showed that the ship was built in New England and felled around 1850.
A new study suggests that dinosaurs were well adapted to cold temperatures and survived a mass extinction event caused by massive volcanic eruptions. The research found evidence of dinosaur footprints and pebbles in lake sediments at high latitudes, indicating that they thrived in conditions where other reptiles died.
A community-led network of low-cost sensors found concerning levels of air pollution in Belmont County, Ohio, exceeding WHO guidelines on many days. The study highlights the limitations of EPA sensors and suggests a clear link between fracking and poor air quality.
Researchers have mapped a huge, actively circulating groundwater system in deep sediments in West Antarctica, which could speed glaciers and release carbon. The discovery has significant implications for understanding the behavior of the frozen form found in glaciers.
Scientists detected a seismic signal indicating a massive landslide triggered by the rapid recession of the West Grenville Glacier in British Columbia. The resulting tsunami devastated forest, salmon spawning habitats, and logging camps, killing hundreds of thousands of fish and potentially affecting bears and eagles.
A new study of rocks from nearly 2 miles under the surface suggests that the San Andreas fault's central section has hosted many major earthquakes, including some that could have been fairly recent. The researchers found altered compositions in sedimentary rock, indicating more than 100 quakes with potential magnitudes over 6.9.
The Columbia Climate School has established the Diamonstein-Spielvogel Fellows program, creating two full tuition fellowships to make the program accessible to high-achieving students. The fellowships aim to train a new generation of students who can address the impacts of climate change on human society.
A new study reveals that the US has played a significant role in the trafficking of tiger parts, with San Francisco, Dallas, and Atlanta emerging as major entry points. The research suggests that the scale of trade may have been underestimated, with seizures of illegal tiger products totaling 292 during 2003-2012.
Researchers have discovered evidence of human habitation in the Faroe Islands dating back to around 500 AD, with signs of domestic sheep arrival at this time. The findings, based on lake sediments and DNA analysis, provide conclusive proof that humans inhabited the islands before the Vikings, who are thought to have arrived around 850 AD.
Researchers found that COVID-19 mortality rates were significantly lower in rural Bangladesh compared to other countries, with only 276 deaths reported between February and October 2020. This contrasted with a 10% increase in urban areas. The study suggests that the region's unique circumstances may have contributed to this outcome.
Researchers found that before the weakening of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation, ice sheets in the Northern Hemisphere began to stick to their bedrock more effectively, causing glaciers to grow thicker and disrupt global heat conveyor belts. This led to stronger ice ages and the observed climate pattern shift.
A new study warns that the Arctic Ocean's 'Last Ice Area,' a region where summer ice traditionally persists, may not survive the century. The study predicts that under high-emissions scenarios, summer ice will disappear by 2100, displacing creatures such as seals and polar bears.
A new study found that urban heat exposure has tripled worldwide since the 1980s, affecting nearly a quarter of the global population. The study revealed that city dwellers are exposed to extreme heat and humidity for more person-days, with 1.7 billion people affected on multiple days.
A new dataset combines demographic and financial information to identify communities at risk of climate-related gentrification. The Socio-Economic Physical Housing Eviction Risk (SEPHER) dataset provides insights into the impact of climate hazards on vulnerable populations, including increased evictions and rising housing costs.
Researchers reconstructed Mongolia's temperature history using a new tree ring analysis method, confirming record-breaking summer warmth over the past eight centuries. The study supports the delta blue intensity method and enhances climate projections, highlighting the urgent need to address Central Asia's rapid warming.
A new study published in Nature Food found that long-running wars are the primary driver of rising hunger in Africa, displacing people, raising food prices, and blocking aid. Droughts have played a smaller role in exacerbating food insecurity, with their impact remaining steady or even decreasing over time.
A new study finds that global sea levels during the last interglacial may have been as low as 1.2 meters higher than today, rather than the previously accepted 6-9 meters. This suggests that ice sheet melting was not as extensive as thought, but also raises concerns about future projections.
A new metric, 'mortality cost of carbon,' quantifies the impact of climate change on human lives. The study finds that current carbon emissions could lead to 83 million excess deaths by 2100, with most fatalities occurring in Africa and South Asia.
Researchers uncover how seamounts lubricate tectonic plates, preventing large earthquakes. The study suggests a key difference in the northern and southern parts of the Hikurangi Margin, which contributes to the region's high earthquake activity.