The article provides an overview of notable events from the Columbia Climate School at the American Geophysical Union’s annual meeting held in New Orleans from December 13-17. Key presentations covered a range of climate-related topics:
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Climate Impacts: Alexander Ruane discussed the IPCC’s Sixth Assessment Report, outlining climate impacts across various regions.
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Carbon Storage: Researchers Catalina Sanchez Roa and Peter Kelemen presented advancements in underground carbon storage techniques using Oman’s mantle rocks.
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Environmental Justice: Carolynne Hultquist focused on developing maps to identify socially vulnerable areas, integrating demographic data with environmental risk factors.
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Air Pollution: Studies led by Garima Raheja revealed that former redlined neighborhoods suffer disproportionately from high air pollution levels.
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Historical Climate Events: Ram Singh examined volcanic eruptions impacting Egypt’s Ptolemaic era, while Dallas Abbott investigated the 533-544 AD climate downturn, potentially linked to volcanic activity.
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Urban Air Quality in Africa: Daniel Westervelt’s team showcased data from low-cost sensors tracking urban air pollution across several African cities.
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Weather Vulnerability: Upmanu Lall addressed the Texas power grid’s vulnerability, simulating peak seasonal demands in relation to extreme weather.
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High Mountain Climate Change: Daniel Ruiz Carrascal presented data indicating rapid climate impacts in the Colombian Andes, with ecosystems shifting due to warming.
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Greenland’s Rising Land: Casey Brayton and Margie Turrin discussed how Greenland’s land is rising due to ice loss, affecting coastal dynamics.
- Alaska’s Earthquake Studies: Lynn Sykes presented findings from significant earthquakes in Alaska, emphasizing improved hazard understanding.
The meeting featured various press conferences, with several presentations addressing urgent climate issues and research advancements. For more details, individuals can access talks and press conference information through the meeting’s Media Center.