Lamont–Doherty Earth Observatory

Last updated
Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory
Company type Non-profit research institute
Founded1948
Headquarters Palisades, New York
Key people
Steven L. Goldstein, Interim Director [1]
Parent Columbia University   OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg
Website www.ldeo.columbia.edu
Gary C. Comer Building Geochemistry Building on the Lamont-Doherty (LDEO) campus Ldeo-comer-2010 - 1.jpg
Gary C. Comer Building Geochemistry Building on the Lamont-Doherty (LDEO) campus

The Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory (LDEO) is a research institution specializing in the Earth science and climate change. Though part of Columbia University, it is located on a separate closed campus in Palisades, New York. [2]

Contents

The Observatory was one of the centers of research that led to the development of the theory of Plate Tectonics as well as many other notable scientific developments.

Campus

LDEO is located in Palisades, New York on a property overlooking the Hudson River which was once the weekend residence of banker Thomas W. Lamont. It was donated to the university in 1948 by his widow, Florence Lamont. [2] In 1969, the Observatory was renamed "Lamont-Doherty" following a gift from the Henry L. and Grace Doherty Charitable Foundation. [3]

Research

A part of the Core Repository LDEO DSS Repository.jpg
A part of the Core Repository
LDEO researcher Robin Bell Robin+Bell Lamont Doherty Earth Observatory.jpg
LDEO researcher Robin Bell

Climate change

The LDEO is a substantial source of data for the US government in relation to climate change. Faculty at the LDEO have been noted for giving climate change testimony to Congress in relation to melting ice sheets. [4] NOAA has also noted the LDEO's Global Ocean Surface Water Partial Pressure of CO2 Database as being an instrumental source of partial pressure carbon dioxide data (pCO2), which can, in turn, detail the amount of carbon dioxide dissolved in the earth's oceans. Many versions of the LDEO database have been published over the years, dating back to 2006. [5]

Tree rings

The tree-ring lab at the LDEO studies the effects on climate and climate change on trees. In an interview, Nicole Davi from the LDEO noted findings like the formation of tree-rings during extended dry seasons, as well as work being done to carbon-date trees to verify tree ring data. [6]

Core repository

The core repository at the LDEO stores various drilled sediment samples from the earth's oceans. The samples have been used to detail climate changes between glaciation periods, in context of dissolved elements and gases, like calcium (from shells) and carbon dioxide. [7]

Earthquakes

A major source of past earthquake data comes from the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory/National Center for Earthquake Engineering Research (NCEER) Earthquake Strong Motion Database. [8]

Antarctic mapping

In 2012, Voice of America documented the work done by LDEO researcher Robin Bell, and others, in mapping the land underneath the Antarctica ice sheet. Several notable findings included the discovery of hidden rivers, hidden mountain ranges, and significant geothermal energy below the ice. [9]

Other

Other examples of LDEO's research are:

Research vessels

The RV Marcus G. Langseth LDEO Langseth.jpg
The RV Marcus G. Langseth
RV Marcus Langseth is a research vessel operated by the Lamont–Doherty Earth Observatory (LDEO) of Columbia University as a part of the University-National Oceanographic Laboratory System (UNOLS) fleet. [25] [26] The Marcus G. Langseth was dedicated on December 4, 2007, came into service in early 2008, replacing the RV Maurice Ewing. [27]

Directors

  1. Maurice Ewing (1949–1972) [28]
  2. Manik Talwani (1972–1980)
  3. Neil Opdyke (1981; interim)
  4. C. Barry Raleigh (1981–1989)
  5. Dennis V. Kent (1989–1990; interim)
  6. Gordon Eaton (1990–1994)
  7. John C. Mutter (1994–1996; interim)
  8. Peter M. Eisenberger (1996–1999)
  9. John C. Mutter (1999–2000; interim)
  10. G. Michael Purdy (2000–2011)
  11. Arthur L. Lerner-Lam (2011–2012; interim)
  12. Sean Solomon (2012–2020)
  13. Maureen Raymo (2020–2023)
  14. Stephen L. Goldstein (2023–present; interim)

Notable people

Related Research Articles

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SV Mandalay

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Maya Tolstoy is a marine geophysicist known for her work on earthquakes in the deep sea. From Fall 2018 through December 2019 she was the Interim Executive Vice President and Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences at Columbia University. As of 2022, she is the Maggie Walker Dean in the College of the Environment at the University of Washington.

References

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41°00′14″N73°54′25″W / 41.004°N 73.907°W / 41.004; -73.907