Calculations of hydrogen sulfide and winds from NYC 8 Jan. 07 event
Calculations suggest salt marsh sediments can supply enough sulfur gases.
Winds form the south are unusual in NYC, as seen in this graph of yearly winds.
(These wind data come from the Hans Christian Anderson Complex in Harlem where Columbia maintains a weather station in collaboration with the Future Leaders Institute. These data are also on-line.)Deep ocean sediment microbial diversity
Hudson River microbiology
An interdisciplinary group of
earth scientists, microbiologists and environmental engineers from across the
University has begun coordinated research on EarthÕs microbial life. This initiative leverages existing
intellectual resources for an interdisciplinary analysis of the planetÕs
smallest, but hardly least important, biological group. Approaches derived from recent advances
in molecular biology provide a common thread among these broad themes. Molecular methods are rapidly
clarifying the evolutionary pathways that have given rise to existing microbial
forms. The methods also reveal the
staggering diversity of microbial communities. These aspects complement each other in the analysis of the
extent and diversity of microbial life, its role in maintaining EarthÕs living
system, and its interactions with natural and human-induced variations.
Initial
research projects focus on some far-reaching issues that have been difficult or
impossible to address previously.
These include the microbial life in the deep sub-surface, the sequestration of carbon dioxide, and
the microbes critical to the health of local waters such as the Hudson River. Other research projects focus on the
role of microbes in global nutrient cycles. Microbes play critical roles both in providing nutrients for
plant growth and in removing nutrients.
New research examines the biodiversity of such global systems and the
role this diversity plays in maintaining the levels of important environmental
components.
The initiative
currently consists of faculty, research staff, postdoctoral fellows and students
and a dedicated molecular laboratory has been developed at the Lamont-Doherty
campus. A seminar series will
bring speakers with expertise in several of the research areas addressed to
campus over the next year.
