Researchers Cornelia Class and Steven L. Goldstein re-evaluate geochemical arguments using new databases, finding evidence favors whole-mantle convection. This supports the idea that most of Earth's mantle has been subject to the same forces driving crust movements.
Researchers used seismic data to create images of solidified lenses and sills embedded in the Earth's crust/mantle boundary, suggesting a complex formation process. The findings imply that the lower oceanic crust is generated from multiple smaller magma sources rather than a single large source.
Scientists captured T waves from the Sumatra earthquake using underwater microphones at Diego Garcia, providing a direct look at the entirety of the large underwater event. The study reveals two phases: faster rupture to the south and slower to the north, with implications for tsunami risk and emergency relief.
A recent study confirms that the Earth's energy is out of balance, with an imbalance of 0.85 watts per meter squared causing a significant impact on global temperatures. The study also reveals that warmer waters will lead to accelerated ice sheet disintegration and sea level rise.
Researchers have discovered evidence of large fluctuations in sea levels over thousands of years, not just during glacial periods, using a new method of dating corals. This finding suggests that sea levels may be more variable than previously thought, with changes occurring on shorter time scales.
Researchers propose alternative explanation for fault formation at mid-ocean ridges, citing role of magma and rotation of faults. The study suggests that large offset 'oceanic core complex' faults may form due to bending of lithosphere, contradicting the previous standard model.
A new global risk analysis reveals that approximately 20% of the Earth's land surface is exposed to at least one natural hazard, affecting over half the world's population. The study categorizes regions by their level of exposure to multiple hazards, highlighting countries with high mortality risks from two or more hazards.
A pilot study by Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory researchers gathers baseline information on subway workers’ exposure to airborne metals. The study aims to determine if the elevated metal levels pose a health concern for transit workers.
Researchers at the Earth Institute explore drivers of hunger and infant mortality, develop improved radiocarbon dating techniques, and examine Arctic soot impacts on climate. They also use regional models to assess potential for extreme climate change.
Researchers used a simple climate model to demonstrate that changes in the strength of winds in the stratosphere can cause changes in tropospheric weather systems. This understanding is crucial for improving seasonal weather forecasts and predicting the effects of ozone depletion and global warming on our climate.
The Solid Earth Sample Registry (SESAR) will provide globally unique identifiers to solve a longstanding problem in geosciences. The system will facilitate data sharing, database linking, and cooperation among researchers.
Reductions in carbon dioxide and non-carbon dioxide trace gases can stabilize the climate with warming less than 1°C at 520 ppm CO2 levels. The Montreal Protocol is effective in reducing ozone-depleting gases, but needs extension to address other trace gases.
Researchers have created a North American Drought Atlas CD-ROM, mapping year-by-year occurrences of droughts over the last 2005 years. The atlas provides essential paleoclimate data with applications to science, policy, education, and history.
A historical study found that elevated aridity in the western US may be a natural response to climate warming. The study revealed a 400-year-long period of epic drought during the Medieval Warm Period (A.D. 900-1300), which could lead to increased aridity if temperatures continue to rise.
The Earth Institute at Columbia University aims to increase the number of women in its affiliated departments and research centers to 25%. The ADVANCE Program, funded by a $4.2M NSF grant, uses a five-fold approach to help women overcome career barriers in earth sciences and engineering.
Professors Dick Peltier and Sir Nicholas Shackleton receive the $200,000 Vetlesen Prize for their groundbreaking contributions to understanding Earth's climate system. Their research revolutionizes scientific inquiry in climate change, with Peltier's ice sheet reconstructions becoming a standard in climate science.
Scientists at Columbia University's Lamont Doherty Earth Observatory have made new discoveries about the formation of underwater mountains along the Mid-Ocean Ridge. They found that the height and width of these mountains are highly correlated to the direction the ridge and connecting plates move across the planet's surface.
Researchers discovered a consistent link between marine productivity off western North America and millennial-scale climate change in the North Atlantic. The study found that changes in subsurface nutrients concentrations were driven by wind patterns at low latitude, overturning previous theories on bottom-water oxygen levels.
Researchers will study tree rings to reconstruct regional climate histories and analyze relationships between climate variables, leading to improved long-term forecasting of the Asian monsoon's impacts on global population and agriculture.
Research suggests that global warming could result in a dryer and dimmer world as aerosol particles reflect sunlight, reducing the amount of radiation reaching the Earth's surface. This leads to weaker turbulent heat fluxes, resulting in reduced evaporation and precipitation.
A new climate model, LDEO5, has been developed by scientists at Columbia University that accurately predicted every major change in the tropical Pacific Ocean temperature over the past 150 years. The model suggests that ENSO is largely driven by internal relationships between ocean temperature and tropical winds.
The Hudson River Estuary has largely stopped filling in with new sediment, except for specific locations, according to researchers. The estuary's sedimentation rate is approximately 1mm per year, matching the rate of sea level rise.
Researchers at Columbia University discovered that steel dust from NYC subways contains elevated levels of iron, manganese, and chromium, exceeding 100 times those found in indoor or outdoor settings. The study suggests that subway platforms are a primary source of exposure to these metals.
Researchers at Columbia Climate School presented various studies, including predicting earthquakes to urban heat island effects. One study found that human activities may have significantly raised seismicity levels in stable continental regions during the last half-century. Another study examined the impact of climate change on air pol...
Research suggests that climate conditions during the Little Ice Age (1645-1715) and Maunder Minimum enabled the production of high-quality instruments. The unique tree-ring patterns from this period resulted in denser, slower-growing wood suitable for soundboards.
Columbia researchers have developed a classification system for turning SAR data into detailed maps of landscape elements like water, vegetation, and rocks. This technology has shown superiority over optical remote sensing in identifying disaster zones, particularly during nighttime or with smoke and dust present.
Researchers at Columbia Climate School have discovered that the majority of water in the Indonesian Throughflow flows below 300m below the surface, making it colder and deeper than thought. This finding has significant implications for understanding heat exchange between oceans and the atmosphere.
A recent study by Alessandra Giannini confirms a strong link between sea surface temperatures and precipitation in Africa's Sahel region. The research finds that Indian Ocean temperatures are the primary driver of precipitation in the area, with implications for climate prediction and seasonal predictions.
Scientists mapped locked zones on the Cascadia megathrust, revealing a 56-mile swath of land faces a greater threat from earthquakes than previously thought. Another major earthquake is expected within the next 200 to 800 years, putting rapidly growing inland cities at risk.
Researchers used molecular methods to identify genetically unique areas on Sulawesi, prioritizing conservation efforts for species with distinct evolutionary lineages. The study highlights the need for targeted resource allocation to maximize biodiversity conservation.
Researchers deployed to Anatahan island to collect samples of gas, ash, pumice, and lava to study the early emissions and gases from the volcano. The samples will help determine the hazards of this eruption and provide critical clues about the possible behavior of Anatahan over the next few weeks and months.
Researchers at Columbia University have developed a method to extract DNA from dung, enabling the study of wild animal populations without capturing or handling them. This technique has been shown to be reliable and efficient, allowing researchers to analyze genetic data on species such as Asian elephants, rhinos, and apes.
Researchers at Columbia University suggest that ancient faults in the Wabash Valley Fault System may be re-activated, causing recent earthquakes. The study analyzed seismic data from a June 2002 earthquake and found evidence of strike-slip faulting on a near-vertical fault plane at 18 km depth.
The report recommends building disaster resilience into utility infrastructure, strengthening emergency response systems, and establishing constitutional legitimacy for disaster management. The authors aim to reduce the vulnerability of Caracas to natural hazards through innovative interdisciplinary approaches.
The study found that ocean circulation plays a less significant role in climate change, while atmospheric circulation has a major impact on temperature differences between Europe and North America. The Rocky Mountains contribute significantly to the temperature contrast by creating a persistent wave in winds downstream.
New mapping data reveals dramatic changes in Earth's crust beneath Lake Vostok, indicating a faultline and supporting the idea that thermal energy comes from tectonic processes. The lake's unique ecosystem may contain microorganisms with distinct adaptations to extreme environments.
Columbia University has established a new cross-disciplinary graduate program with a $2.9 million NSF grant, focusing on applied mathematics and Earth sciences. The program aims to equip students with both mathematical skills and deep understanding of environmental issues.
Researchers found that small-magnitude earthquakes and micro-cracking in a region called the process zone precede propagation, followed by nucleation of the rift axis and upwelling of magma. This new understanding can be applied to more complex rift settings in oceans and continents.