Nicole deRoberts, Author at State of the Planet

Ozone-Depleting Substances Caused Half of Late 20th-Century Arctic Warming, Says Study

A study finds that ozone-depleting substances caused about a third of all global warming from 1955 to 2005, and half of Arctic warming and sea ice loss during that period.

by |January 20, 2020
deep well in india and views inside pipes

Study Zeros In on Source of Arsenic in Bengal Basin’s Deep Wells

Typically only shallow wells have arsenic problems, but in an area of India and Bangladesh, deep wells are highly contaminated. Scientists are starting to learn why.

by |November 26, 2019
new mural at the Hudson River Field Station

A Mural for Lamont’s Hudson River Field Station: How it Came to Be

The newly renovated research facility will host an educational mural that combines art and science.

by |September 12, 2019
microbeads in laundry detergent

Washing Laundry May Be An Underappreciated Source of Microplastic Pollution

A student research project unveils that tiny plastics in laundry detergents and fabrics could potentially have a big impact on ocean health.

by |August 22, 2019

Climate Change Could Revive Medieval Megadroughts in U.S. Southwest

Study picks apart factors that caused severe, long-lasting droughts and suggests increased risk for future.

by |July 24, 2019
instrument parachutes out back of airplane

Robots Roaming in Antarctic Waters Reveal Why Ross Ice Shelf Melts Rapidly in Summer

A new study reveals how local factors influence the Ross Ice Shelf’s stability, refining predictions of how it will change and influence sea rise in the future.

by |July 22, 2019
astronaut on moon

How Landing on the Moon Changed Our World

Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory director Sean Solomon discusses how Apollo 11 affected the scientific community, how Lamont was involved, and what comes next for lunar exploration.

by |July 17, 2019
hadley cell atmospheric circulation

Columbia Researchers Provide New Evidence on the Reliability of Climate Modeling

Observational data confirms that Hadley cell circulation is weakening, which has important consequences for future rainfall in the subtropics.

by |June 24, 2019

How Changes in Climate Impacted Ancient Civilizations

William D’Andrea studies past climates to see how societies such as the Vikings and the Rapanui of Easter Island dealt with environmental change. His work may help us adapt to a hotter future.

by |May 31, 2019

Climate Change is Destroying a Barrier That Protects the U.S. East Coast from Hurricanes

A new study finds that as air circulation patterns change with the climate, coastal states could get hit with stronger hurricanes.

by |May 24, 2019