LDEO November 2022 Newsletter: Earth Science News
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Assessing Risk, Taking Action
Damage from September 2022 Hurricane Ian. Credit: Florida Fish and Wildlife
COP27: Delegates From the Columbia Climate School Share Their Plans and Hopes
A number of representatives from the Columbia Climate School will be attending the global climate summit in Egypt. Here’s what they’ll be up to, and what they hope to achieve.
Some of the Most Drastic Risks From Climate Change Are Routinely Excluded From Economic Models, Says Study
Economic models are missing huge future risks from climate change, in part because no one knows how to quantify them, says a new study.
What Tropical Trees Can Teach Us About the Environment
PhD student Rose Oelkers discusses her work in the Amazon and what we can learn from the trees if we listen closely.
Aging Populations, Low Economic Development May Amplify Future Air Pollution Health Impacts
Even if pollution goes down and climate change is slowed, deaths from air pollution in some regions may still rise.
The 'Cassandra of the Subways' on Hurricane Sandy, Ten Years Later
Klaus Jacob predicted for years how the New York City subways would flood in a superstorm. Finally, authorities began to listen, but long-term preventive action came too little, too late.
A Climate and Weather Expert on What We Know About Giant Storms Since Sandy
A scientist and writer reflects on the links between climate and extreme weather, New York City’s preparedness, and the role of the media in informing the public.
Flooding Significantly Impacts African Food Security, Says Study
At a time when flooding is overtaking many parts of the world, millions of people in Africa are going hungry when croplands, livestock and infrastructure are inundated. But the results are complicated.
Permafrost Emissions Must Be Factored Into Global Climate Targets, Says Study
As the Arctic melts, permafrost there has the potential to send huge amounts of carbon into the atmosphere, but exactly how much is up for grabs, depending on what we do to stem climate change in coming years.
Study Upsets Models of How Lake Drainage Within Glaciers May Influence Sea Level
Sudden plunges of lake waters from glacial surfaces to ice-sheet beds may not speed up the movement of Greenland’s tidewater glaciers, as previously thought.
How Do We Clean Up All That Ocean Plastic?
A number of organizations are attempting to clean up the water, but solving the problem of ocean plastic pollution will also require big changes on land.
Presenting Climate LIVE K12: RSVP for Winter 2022 and Spring 2023 Sessions
In the Climate LIVE video series, experts from across the Columbia Climate School present climate and sustainability content for grade school and university students, educators, parents, and the public.
Highlights From the 2022 Lamont Open House
Visitors played with glacial goo, watched trash cans erupt with water and ping pong balls, and performed hands-on science experiments — all while learning how Lamont researchers help us understand our planet.
Should Coastal Communities Rebuild or Retreat After Hurricane Ian?
The benefits and challenges of moving communities to safer ground.
Here’s What We Know About How Climate Change Fuels Hurricanes
When Hurricane Ian hit Florida, it was one of the United States’ most powerful hurricanes on record, and it followed a two-week string of massive, devastating storms around the world.
Preparing for Volcanic Eruptions at Okmok Volcano, Alaska
Researchers are working at a remote ranch in the Aleutians, commuting by helicopter to the brim of a volcano to perform maintenance on their monitoring equipment.
Hudson River Field Station
Charity Dikson, Rockland Conservation Service Corps member and undergraduate mentor for the Next Generation of Hudson River Educators authored this article for the summer 2022 edition of the New York State Conservationist.
Reflections from a Student’s Experience
Building diversity in STEM is a central focus of our Next Gen summer program, and yet not all of our high school participants are focused solely on STEM fields as they consider college, and not all of our undergraduate participants are science majors. We consider this a strength of the program! Building science literacy and science communication skills across all students is critically important in today’s world where we all have a role in tackling climate and sustainability issues. We were fortunate to have Charity Dikson, a journalism major, as one of our undergraduate mentors for the Next Gen program over two consecutive summers. Charity brought to the program knowledge in communicating with the public; effective interviewing skills; social, environmental and climate justice issues; and how to build community connections. Her Dominican heritage and roots in the Haverstraw community have been an asset to our work in building diversity in our program. We encourage you to read her article, which begins “Today, youth all over the world are at the forefront of the struggle to end social disparities. They have taken the reins of many agendas and have become the true visionaries and warriors of their generation.” We hope the Next Gen program can support many of our students as they work to tackle both social disparity and climate justice issues.
Education
Climate LIVE K12 features live lectures and interactive activities with our scientists and experts for K-12 students, educators, and families! Check out our line-up of fall 2022 sessions (free but registration is required!) as well as our rich archive of past sessions.
Events
November 6 through November 18, heads of state, business leaders, and members of civil society are gathering in Egypt to deliberate on further accelerating global climate action through emissions reduction, scaled-up adaptation efforts, and enhanced flows of appropriate finance in a just transition for developing countries worldwide. Learn more about the Columbia Climate’s COP27 participation, including the role of experts from Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory.
On Tuesday, November 15 6-8pm ET, join us in-person at our Monell Auditorium for our next public lecture, Can We Mimic Nature to Remove CO2 from the Atmosphere?, presented by Peter B. Keleman, Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory’s Arthur D. Storke Memorial Professor. Cocktails/light bites at 6pm will be followed by the lecture at 7pm. Learn more/RSVP.
Lamont in the Media (Selected Stories)
It's Been 10 Years Since Sandy. Is New York Any More Prepared for the Next Superstorm?
Mother Jones
A Decade After Sandy, Hurricane Flood Maps Reveal New York's Climate Futur
NPR
Greenland's Melting Ice Could Reveal Riches Beyond Imagination
Newsweek
The Push to Protect Ancient Trees — and the Knowledge They Contain
Axios
A Decade Post-Sandy, New York Vulnerable As Ever
Barron's
What Is a 'Triple Dip' La Niña? Meteorologists Predict One Is Coming
ABC News Radio
How Disastrous Floods Can Also Lead to Food Insecurity
Popular Science
Phytoplankton: How Too Much of a Good Thing Causes Problems
The Sweaty Penguin
Is Climate Change Fueling Massive Hurricanes in the Atlantic? Here's What Science Says.
USA Today
Cloudburst Program Would Turn Parts of NYC Into Floodwater Super Sponge
Gothamist
'A Race for Higher Ground': A New Study Shows How Climate Gentrification Is Displacing Vulnerable Communities
Fast Company
Opinion: Where the Hurricane Risk Is Growing
CNN
Hurricane Ian Capped 2 Weeks of Extreme Storms Around the Globe: Here's What's Known About How Climate Change Fuels Hurricanes
The Conversation
Check out apparel, tote bags, reusable water bottles, and more from Columbia Climate School. Great for everyone on your gift list. Shop now!
