Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory

Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory Scientists at Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory develop fundamental knowledge about the origin, evolut

The plumbing systems of volcanoes are vast and complex. But they aren’t consistent, even within the same volcano.A recen...
06/18/2026

The plumbing systems of volcanoes are vast and complex. But they aren’t consistent, even within the same volcano.

A recent Cornell University-led study co-authored by Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory geochemist/volcanologist Terry Plank and colleagues found very different mechanisms behind two historic eruptions of Italy’s Mount Etna, one of the tallest active volcanoes in Europe.

In one eruption, water-rich magma rose and stalled at shallow depths before erupting; in another, carbon dioxide-rich magma rose quickly from much deeper underground. Understanding these dynamics can help geologists assess the risk of future eruptions.

“Etna is such a tourist destination today for climbers and skiers, but it had these very explosive eruptions in the past. The textbooks say that these hot, mafic magmas that erupt from Etna can’t be explosive. Our work shows the power of CO2,” says Plank.

Learn more: https://lamont.columbia.edu/news/carbon-dioxide-and-water-played-key-roles-historic-mount-etna-eruptions

📷 Mount Etna volcano in Sicily, Italy. Courtesy: Esteban Gazel

At the Sensitivity of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet to 2°C Warming (Swais2c) Crary Ice Rise Core Description Workshop, Ph...
06/17/2026

At the Sensitivity of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet to 2°C Warming (Swais2c) Crary Ice Rise Core Description Workshop, PhD student Kelly Fenton-Samuels participated as the Physical Properties Specialist, helping characterize the longest sediment core ever recovered from beneath an ice sheet. The 228m core was drilled through more than 500m of ice, and contains a unique record of environmental and ice-sheet change spanning millions of years.

Fenton-Samuels' role involved imaging sediment cores immediately after splitting to preserve a permanent archive of their fresh surfaces, as well as collecting high-resolution color reflectance, magnetic susceptibility, and density measurements.

These datasets help identify changes in sediment composition and depositional conditions through time, providing key evidence for reconstructing past retreat and collapse of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet.

The results will improve our understanding of Antarctica's sensitivity to warming and its potential contribution to future sea level rise.

Learn more: https://swais2c.aq/media/core-workshop-gets-underway

📷 A visit from 1News New Zealand during the SWAIS2C core description workshop. Credit: Kelly Fenton-Samuels

📷 Freshly opened sediment core sections from the record-breaking SWAIS2C drill core, preserving a unique archive of West Antarctic Ice Sheet history. Credit: Kelly Fenton-Samuels

📷 Sediment core sections being imaged using a high-resolution line-scan system to permanently archive the fresh core surface before any color changes occur. Credit: Kelly Fenton-Samuels

Even as trees photosynthesize late into the year, their growth stops by mid-summer, which impacts their carbon uptake, f...
06/15/2026

Even as trees photosynthesize late into the year, their growth stops by mid-summer, which impacts their carbon uptake, finds a new study of oak trees led by Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory ecoclimatologist Mukund Palat Rao.

“Right now, most models assume that if you have photosynthesis, you have growth. We find that’s not the case. Just because there is more photosynthesis might not necessarily mean more tree growth in the future,” says Rao.

The researchers observed that the decoupling between photosynthesis and growth was especially pronounced in years when local climates were most variable, oscillating between extremes of wet and dry. This pattern is expected to become more common as the climate changes.

"Understanding how photosynthesis and growth are linked is very important from the perspective of understanding how forests will store carbon over long time scales," adds Rao.

➡️ Learn more: https://lamont.columbia.edu/news/new-research-indicates-future-trees-may-store-less-carbon-expected

In addition to Rao, Lamont co-authors include plant physiologist Kevin Griffin and tree ring scientist Laia Andreu-Hayles as well as colleagues from UC Davis, the University of Virginia, Cornell, Harvard and other institutions in the United States, Europe and Argentina.

📷 A point dendrometer. These sensors can measure changes in tree radius and be used to estimate tree hydration status and growth. Credit: Mukund Rao

How much and why did ice sheets melt during the last interglacial? Members of the HISEAS team (hiseas.org) are in the So...
06/12/2026

How much and why did ice sheets melt during the last interglacial? Members of the HISEAS team (hiseas.org) are in the Southern Cook Islands to understand sea level changes over time by studying information left behind in the makatea or limestone terraces.

📷 HISEAS field team on Mangaia, Cook Islands. Left to right: Jacky Austermann (LDEO), Emalee Ott (University of Florida), Billy D’Andrea (LDEO), Blake Dyer (University of Victoria), Tilli Steadman (LDEO/Columbia University DEES), Oana Dumitru (University of Florida), and Roger Creel (Texas A&M).

📷 Blake Dyer and Billy D’Andrea inspecting a spur of fossil coral reef from the last interglacial period (125,000 years ago). Credit: Jacky Austermann

📷 PhD student Tilli Steadman samples fossil corals on Mangaia, Cook Islands. Credit: Jacky Austermann

📷 Coastline of Mitiaro, Cook Islands with modern and fossil coral reefs. Credit: Blake Dyer

📣 Job Alert! Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory in Palisades, NY seeks a research assistant, associate or professor with e...
06/10/2026

📣 Job Alert! Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory in Palisades, NY seeks a research assistant, associate or professor with expertise in fundamental research on basic Earth sciences, and the demonstrated ability to apply this expertise to topics in the broad field of Earth resources.

For example, basic science expertise could include research on thermodynamics and kinetics of water/rock reaction, dynamics of subsurface fluid transport, chemical and physical processes of rock fracture, solid earth geophysics, remote sensing, or similar fields.

This expertise should be coupled with an established record of applying this knowledge to resource exploration (on land or at sea), extraction of materials critical to the economy (currently, most urgently, materials needed for the clean energy transition and for fertilizer), sustainable sources of fresh water, natural and applied greenhouse gas capture and storage, geologic aspects of low-carbon energy sources, environmental impacts of resource extraction, and/or similar applications.

➡️ Learn more/apply and please share! https://academic.careers.columbia.edu/ #!/184461

📷 Aerial View of the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory campus in Palisades, NY. Credit: Nick Frearson

Columbia University Columbia Climate School

👏 Congratulations to Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory structural geologist Folarin Kolawole, recipient of a 2026 Nationa...
06/09/2026

👏 Congratulations to Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory structural geologist Folarin Kolawole, recipient of a 2026 National Geographic Society Wayfinder Award, which recognizes bold changemakers whose work is expanding our understanding of the planet and helping to protect its future.

Kolawole studies some of the most consequential slow-motion processes on Earth: how continents stretch and eventually split apart, and how ancient faults far from the active edges of tectonic plates can cause earthquakes. At Lamont, Kolawole is part of a long line of researchers studying the dynamics of the solid Earth, from plate tectonics to seafloor spreading and the evolution of ocean basins. Kolawole's work is also inspiring the next generation of Earth scientists in Africa.​​​​‌‍​‍​‍‌‍‌​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‍​‍​‍​‍‍​‍​‍‌​‌‍​‌‌‍‍‌‍‍‌‌‌​‌‍‌​‍‍‌‍‍‌‌‍​‍​‍​‍​​‍​‍‌‍‍​‌​‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‍​‍​‍​‍‍​‍​‍‌‍‍​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‍‍​‍​‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‌‌​​‍‌‌‍​‌‍‌‌​​‍‍‌‍‍‌‍​‌‌‌​‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‍‍‌‍​‌‌‍​‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‍‌‌​‍‌‍​‌‌​​‌‍‍​‌‍‍‌‌‍​​‍‍‌‍‌​‍‌‍‌​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌​​‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​‌‍‍‌‌‌​​‍‌‍‌‌‍‌‍‌​‌‍‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌‍‌‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌​‌‍​‌‌‌​‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‍‍​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌​​‌‌‍‌‍​‍​‌‍​‍​‌‌‍‌‌‌‍​‌​‍‌‌‍‌‌​‍‌​‌‌​​‍​‌​​‌‍​‍‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‍‌‌‍​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‍​‍‌​‌​​‌‌​‍‌​‌‍‌‍​‍‌‍​‌​​​​​‌‍​‌‍​‍​‌​‌‍‌‍​‍‌‌​‌‍‌‌​​‌‍‌‌​‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌‍​‌‌​‍‌‌​‌‍‍‌‌‍​‌‍​‌‍‌‌​‍‌​​‌‍​‌‌‌​‌‍‍​​‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌​‌​‌‍​‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌​​‍‌‍‌‍‌​‌‍‌​‍‌‌​‌‌‌​​‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​‍‌‌​​‌​‌​​‍‌‌​​‌​‌​​‍‌‌​​‍​​‍‌‍‌‍​‌‌​‌‌​‍​​​‍​​‌‌‍‌​‌‍‌‍‌‍​‍‌‍​‌‌‍‌‌​​‍​‍‌‌​​‍​​‍​‍‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‍‍‌‍​‌‍‍​‌‍‍‌‌‍​‌‍‌​‌​‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‍​‍‌‌​‌‌‌​​‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​‍‌‌​​‌​‌​​‍‌‌​​‌​‌​​‍‌‌​​‍​​‍​​​‌‍‌‌‌‍​‌​‌​‌‌‌‍‌‍

“As a field scientist working across borders, this award affirms the value of field observation-based and collaborative discovery. It will help me pursue more ambitious field campaigns, strengthen global collaborations, and deepen our understanding of the tectonic processes that are actively reshaping continents,” says Kolawole.

➡️ Learn more: https://lamont.columbia.edu/news/geologist-folarin-kolawole-receives-2026-national-geographic-wayfinder-award

🌊 Happy UN ! This year's theme—Reimagine—asks us to move from passive inheritors of the ocean’s generosity to active gu...
06/08/2026

🌊 Happy UN ! This year's theme—Reimagine—asks us to move from passive inheritors of the ocean’s generosity to active guardians of its future.

Our scientists have spent decades cataloging and reimagining the ocean’s critical role in our lives. They have been mapping the ocean floor, collecting seismic data aboard the R/V Marcus G. Langseth, studying the ocean carbon sink, and documenting changes in El Niño, among other deep questions.

🔎 Learn more about some of our recent advances in ocean science and educational initiatives: https://lamont.columbia.edu/news/world-oceans-day-reimagines-our-relationship-water-around-us

📷 Sunrise from the galley of the R/V Marcus G. Langseth off the coast of the Carolinas heading south to Puerto Rico. Credit: Christina DeLorenzi

💬 “It explains a phenomenon that's a fingerprint of climate change, has been known to occur for decades, and has not bee...
06/04/2026

💬 “It explains a phenomenon that's a fingerprint of climate change, has been known to occur for decades, and has not been understood,” says Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory atmospheric physicist Robert Pincus.

Research Highlights
🌌 New Study Explains How Carbon Dioxide Cools Upper Atmosphere—and Warms Earth Below
🌊 “Near-miss” Tsunami in Alaskan Cruise Area Offers Lessons for Steep Landscapes Near Glaciers
❄️ Antarctic Dust Reveals Signs of a Diminished Ross Ice Shelf

Opportunities to Participate
🐟 Science Saturdays - Take part in hands-on, family-friendly activities on Saturdays Jun through Sep 12-4pm at the LDEO Hudson River Field Station in Piermont, NY.
🗓️ LDEO Open House - Join us on Saturday Oct 17 for our biggest, best science fun and discovery event of the year on our beautiful campus in Palisades, NY.

➡️ Learn more: https://createsend.com/t/d-31100F1CD04145932540EF23F30FEDED

📩 Subscribe: lamont.columbia.edu/news/newsletter

📷 Lamont's R/V Marcus G. Langseth in the moonlight during the Queen Charlotte Fault Expedition, August 2021, Haida Gwaii. Credit: Cody Bahlau

🪟 In fall 2025, the Rockland Audubon Society (RAS) helped fund the installation of bird strike deterrents on windows at ...
05/28/2026

🪟 In fall 2025, the Rockland Audubon Society (RAS) helped fund the installation of bird strike deterrents on windows at Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory.

🐦 On May 17, nine RAS members visited campus for a 4-hour bird walk that stepped off at 6:30am, and by 8am, had observed no less than 215 Cedar Waxwings flying over in multiple flocks of 10 to 80 individuals!

🪺 Other highlights included Blackburnian and Tennessee Warblers, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Swainsons’s Thrush, Orchard and Baltimore Orioles, Scarlet Tanager, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, and Eastern Wood-Pewee. It also appeared that all four Tree Swallow nest boxes were active. In total, the group saw or heard 44 species!

💚 Learn more about Lamont's campus stewardship efforts:
https://lamont.columbia.edu/leisc

📷 Courtesy of Gino Ver Eecke

1. Rockland Audubon Society visitors
2. Baltimore Oriole
3. Swainson's Thrush
4. Tree Swallow on nest box
5. Orchard Oriole
6. Northern Mockingbird
7. American Robin on nest
8. Common Yellowthroat
9. Cedar Waxwings and Red-winged Blackbird

🐟 🐟 🐟 Each spring, the Hudson River is alive with migratory fish species that are drawn into the protective waters of th...
05/28/2026

🐟 🐟 🐟 Each spring, the Hudson River is alive with migratory fish species that are drawn into the protective waters of the estuary as part of their reproduction ritual, moving between the ocean and connected estuaries in a carefully timed rhythm.

🗓️ On Saturday May 30, World Fish Migration Day, join scientists and educators at multiple locations along the lower Hudson River Estuary to celebrate the vital role played by estuaries in the life cycle of many ocean fish species.

⛵ One site is our Hudson River Field Station () in Piermont, NY, where you can join us 12-4pm to take part in the Lower Hudson & Harbor Fish Count! From silvery Atlantic silverside and bay anchovy to mummichog and Atlantic menhaden to the lined seahorse and northern stargazers, come discover some of the 235 species that have been identified in the Hudson River Estuary.

➡️ Learn more via State of the Planet:
https://news.climate.columbia.edu/2026/05/27/join-us-on-may-30-to-celebrate-hudson-river-world-fish-migration-day/

📷 Educators and participants scan the net for species at World Fish Migration Day. Credit: Hudson River Field Station

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