Articles tagged with Earth Observations
Researchers at Columbia University will study the health effects of arsenic in groundwater, particularly in New England and South Asia. The $16.9M grant will investigate the geochemistry and exposure sources of arsenic, as well as its effects on children's health.
Satellite images from ESA's ENVISAT and NASA's Aura Satellite reveal a UK record heatwave and significant increases in nitrogen dioxide pollution. The data shows extreme temperature and pollution effects on large conurbations, while smaller cities display more moderate levels.
Researchers studied the retreat of a massive Scandinavian Ice Sheet to gain insights into its dynamics and potential implications for Greenland and Antarctica. The study found that ice sheets in different parts of the world can react differently to global warming, with some growing larger while others rapidly disappear.
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.
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 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.
A new study reveals a mechanism controlling heat transfer and geological production at mid-ocean ridges. Researchers used a new seismic technique to study the Earth's mantle, finding that slow plate separation rates hinder melt production.
The international Argo program has reached a milestone with 1,500 ocean-traveling float instruments now operating, providing valuable data on climate and weather phenomena. This coverage represents half of the target 3,000-float array, enabling scientists to monitor the planet's oceans and gain insights into ocean processes.
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.
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.
New and established remote sensing techniques are being used to assess forest structure and estimate biomass. Additionally, data from various sensors are being incorporated into ecosystem process models to track environmental degradation and inform decision-making.
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.
Researchers have discovered a chemical fingerprint of methane gas from ancient ocean sediments, indicating massive passage of methane through the sediments. The findings suggest that methane clathrates played a significant role in mass extinctions associated with climate change.
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.
Researchers used seismic signals and computer analysis to derive outlines of possible secondary faults in the San Andreas Fault zone. The study's findings suggest that continued drilling will encounter significant structures before reaching the fault zone.
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 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 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.
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.
Researchers at Columbia University have discovered a correlation between earthquakes and ocean tides, with seismic activity increasing during tidal lows. This study suggests that the seafloor crust is breathing with the ocean tides, allowing for regular tidal scheduling of seismic energy release.
Researchers found a mass extinction event occurred less than 30 thousand years before giant theropod dinosaurs emerged, linked to an asteroid or comet impact. The discovery was made in lake sediments from the Newark Supergroup basins, showing a quadrupling of iridium abundance and fern spore spikes.
Researchers found that vibrations recorded on September 11 were of a low magnitude, too small to cause structural damage. The collapse of the towers was attributed to the interaction between the ground and building foundations, transmitting energy from the impacts and collapses.
Researchers at Columbia University have devised a computer model that shows how earthquakes occur in a pyramidal distribution, with one larger quake and multiple smaller ones. The model helps estimate the likelihood of future damage by analyzing the relationship between faults and earthquake distributions.