Studying the Earth's Past, Ensuring Society's Future

Now more than ever, research in the earth and environmental sciences stands at the crux of many decisions facing society. From the formation and evolution of the planet to the causes and impacts of climate change to natural disaster mitigation, researchers at Lamont-Doherty address critical issues and help answer some of the most fundamental questions of our time.

No other research institution or university studies the Earth in quite the same way as the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory. Our scientists study the long record of the Earth's past, monitor its present and strive to foresee its future. They work across many disciplines to form the broadest possible view of the planet and to understand the many forces that shape the ever-changing natural world.

Our commitment to expanding knowledge about the Earth also extends to educating the next generation of scientists, from local elementary and high school students to the most talented graduate students from around the world. At the same time, we are placing increased priority on understanding the complex and dynamic links between the natural environment and society.

In this way, the Observatory lends unique strength and capability to The Earth Institute's drive to make sustainable development a reality worldwide. Our research and our broad-based education activities are crucial to humankind's ability to thrive and prosper as wise stewards of our planet.

Some Major Achievements by Lamont- Doherty Researchers:

• Provided the first definitive evidence to support the theory of plate tectonics
• Made the first successful prediction of extreme weather events associated with "El Niño"
• Provided the first evidence that the Earth's core is spinning faster than the rest of the planet
• First to begin systematically studying the bottom of the Earth's oceans by ship and created the first topographic map of the global ocean bottom
• Demonstrated that changes in the Earth's climate are linked to changes in the planet's rotation and orbit as well as the sun's output