(Updated Wednesday, March 6, 2013)
Before Hurricane Sandy, scientists at The Earth Institute were at the forefront of studying the dangers posed by such storms, especially in the New York City area, where they are based. Among their specialties: the physics of storms and storm prediction; impacts of climate on weather and sea level; vulnerability of populations to natural disasters; the challenges of strengthening urban infrastructure against flooding and other forces; urban public health; and the sociological, cultural, legal and political aspects of natural catastrophes, climate and related issues. Our scientists are available to provide continuing information and perspective. Below, a partial list.
A large assortment of media featuring our scientists is at: http://blogs.ei.columbia.edu/2012/10/29/science-behind-sandy/
and http://www.earth.columbia.edu/articles/view/1976.
Journalists may contact scientists directly. For help or if your request is extremely urgent, please contact a press officer at bottom. (*Denotes a person may be unreachable due to power/phone outages or other destruction.)
Roger N. Anderson
Research scientist, Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory; consultant to Con Edison
Expert on NY City power grid and challenges of making it resilient; urban energy sources; general urban infrastructure
See: http://www.ldeo.columbia.edu/user/anderson
Contact: Anderson@ldeo.columbia.edu, 212 870 2271, 713 398-7430
*Tony Barnston
Chief forecaster, International Research Institute for Climate and Society
Expert on physics of weather systems, medium-term climate forecasts on US East Coast and globally
See: http://portal.iri.columbia.edu/portal/server.pt?objID=5052&mode=2&open=1
Contact: tonyb@iri.columbia.edu, 845 680 4447
James F. Booth
Postdoctoral researcher, Goddard Institute for Space Studies/Columbia Dept Applied Physics & Math
Studies physics of midlatitude storms, extratropical cyclones; influence of climate, oceans on weather
See: http://www.columbia.edu/~jfb2130/
Contact: jfb2130@columbia.edu, 212-678-5668, 212-851-5937
Steven Chillrud
Research scientist, Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory
Public health and storm-induced pollution by toxins, heavy metal and other hazardous substances
http://www.ldeo.columbia.edu/user/chilli
chilli@ldeo.columbia.edu o 845-365-8893 h 845-398-9767 c 845-596-4468
Steven Cohen
Executive director, The Earth Institute
Prolific writer and commentator on urban infrastructure and resilience, environment, climate change and related political and cultural issues. Ex-EPA official.
See: http://www.earth.columbia.edu/articles/view/2252
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/steven-cohen/
Contact: sc32@columbia.edu, 212-854-4445
Assistant: Annie Hunt ahunt@ei.columbia.edu 212-854-4445
George Deodatis
Professor, Columbia Engineering School
Sea level, climate and storm surge effects on transport, urban infrastructure; storm barriers, other long-term engineering solutions
See: http://civil.columbia.edu/george-deodatis-0
Contact: deodatis@civil.columbia.edu 212-854-9728
John Dwyer
Graduate researcher, Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory/Columbia Dept Applied Physics & Math
Studies weather patterns, storm surges and seasonality of weather and climate, especially on US East Coast
See: http://www.columbia.edu/~jgd2102/
Contact: jgd2102@columbia.edu,845-365-8407
Michael Gerrard
Director, Center for Climate Change Law, Columbia Law School
Environmental, climate and energy law. Legal implications of environmental disasters
See: http://www.earth.columbia.edu/articles/view/2528
http://www.law.columbia.edu/fac/Michael_Gerrard
Contact: Michael.gerrard@law.columbia.edu, 212-854-3287
*Lisa Goddard
Director, International Research Institute for Climate and Society
Expert on medium-term climate forecasting, effects of weather and climate on infrastructure including sea levels, and physical adaptations to shifting climate
See: http://portal.iri.columbia.edu/portal/server.pt?objID=4978&mode=2&open=1
Contact: goddard@iri.columbia.edu, 845-680-4865
Vivien Gornitz
Special research scientist, Center for Climate Systems Research
One of the first people to warn that sea-level rise and other effects related to climate change threatened to beset New York and other coastal cities. Author of the 2013 book Rising Seas: Past, Present and Future.
http://www.columbia.edu/cu/pr/96_99/19278.html
Contact: vmg1@columbia.edu
Timothy M. Hall
Research scientist, NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies
Studies atmosphere and ocean dynamics, including generation and tracking of large storms. Has researched likelihood of giant storms.
See: http://apam.columbia.edu/timothy-m-hall
Contact: timothy.m.hall@nasa.gov 212-678-5652
Radley Horton
Research scientist, Center for Climate Systems Research/Goddard Institute for Space Studies
Coauthor of reports detailing New York’s vulnerability to climate and storm disasters and how to strengthen infrastucture. Has served on New York task force on climate change. Extreme weather, climate, flooding.
See: http://www.giss.nasa.gov/staff/rhorton.html
http://ccsr.columbia.edu/?id=aboutus_people (go to Radley Horton)
http://www.earth.columbia.edu/articles/view/2916
http://www.earth.columbia.edu/articles/view/2605
http://www.earth.columbia.edu/articles/view/2228
Contact: rh142@columbia.edu, 212-678-5649
*Klaus Jacob
Research scientist, Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory
One of the earliest to accurately map flood hazards to subways and other infrastructure; coauthor of several key reports on this issue. Seismologist by training, but focusing on coastal hazards.
Video interview with Jacob from his flooded home (free for download): http://blogs.ei.columbia.edu/2012/11/06/a-prescient-voice-on-sandy-suddenly-everyone-is-listening/
See also: http://www.ldeo.columbia.edu/user/jacob
http://www.earth.columbia.edu/articles/view/2916
http://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2012/10/the-article-that-predicted-the-new-york-subway-storm-surge-problem/264199/, http://www.nyserda.ny.gov/~/media/Files/Publications/Research/Environmental/EMEP/climaid/11-18-response-to-climate-change-in-nys-chapter9.ashx,
Contact: jacob@ldeo.columbia.edu, 845 365-8440
Andy Juhl
Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory
Storm-induced water pollution, especially microbial sewage. In coming days, Juhl and colleagues will test water quality by boat around Manhattan, Brooklyn and other areas in New York and along the Hudson River. (Footage may be available; please contact our press office.)
See: http://www.ldeo.columbia.edu/user/andyjuhl
http://www.ldeo.columbia.edu/news-events/sewage-still-plagues-hudson-river
Contact: andyjuhl@ldeo.columbia.edu 845-365-8150
Patrick Kinney
Professor, Mailman School of Public Health
Expert in urban public-health issues and epidemiology related to weather and climate.
See: http://www.mailman.columbia.edu/our-faculty/profile?uni=plk3
Contact: plk3@columbia.edu, 212-305-3663
Arthur Lerner-Lam
Deputy director, Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory; Director, Center for Hazards and Risk Research
Seismologist by training, expert in risk and hazard assessment; earthquakes, storms and other disasters; international studies of government response, at-risk populations, infrastructure, and human vulnerability.
See: http://www.ldeo.columbia.edu/user/lerner
http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2008/05/13/seven_questions_when_disaster_strikes
Contact: lerner@ldeo.columbia.edu, 845-365-8348
Simon Mason
Chief climate scientist, International Research Institute for Climate and Society
Physics of climate change and weather patterns; disaster preparedness. Works globally with International Red Cross.
See: http://portal.iri.columbia.edu/portal/server.pt?objID=4959&mode=2&open=1
Contact: simon@iri.columbia.edu o 845-680-4514 h 845-735-0151
John Mutter
Director, Earth Institute PhD in Sustainable Development; Professor, Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory & School of International and Public Affairs
Expert in human and infrastructure vulnerability to disasters, sustainable development and climate issues. Previously led the ‘Katrina Death List,’ a definitive study of mortality in that disaster.
See: http://www.earth.columbia.edu/articles/view/2358
http://eesc.columbia.edu/faculty/dr-john-c-mutter
http://www.earth.columbia.edu/news/2006/story10-23-06.php
Contact: jcm@ldeo.columbia.edu, 212-854-0716
Benjamin Orlove
Co-director, Center for Research on Environmental Decisions
Specialist in the psychology and sociology of natural disasters and climate. Perceptions of danger, climate adaptation, and public policy.
See: http://eesc.columbia.edu/faculty/benjamin-orlove
http://www.cnn.com/2012/10/29/opinion/orlove-sandy-new-york/index.html
Contact: Bso5@columbia.edu, 212-854 1543, 530 400 3074
Irwin Redlener
Director, National Center for Disaster Preparedness, Mailman School for Public Health
Redlener, a professor of public health, studies how society prepares for disasters at all scales
See: http://www.ncdp.mailman.columbia.edu/index.html
Contact: iredlener@columbia.edu 212-535-9707
Cynthia Rosenzweig
Head of Columbia University Climate Impacts Group, Center for Climate Systems Research
Co-chair, NY City Panel on Climate Change scientific advisory team, which warned of events like Sandy. Has been laying out blueprints for coping with such events. Climate change, urban infrastructure, sea level.
See: http://www.earth.columbia.edu/articles/view/2916
http://www.earth.columbia.edu/articles/view/2176
http://www.earth.columbia.edu/articles/view/2605
http://www.earth.columbia.edu/articles/view/2228
Contact: crr2@columbia.edu, 212- 678-5626, 5562
Elliott Sclar
Director, Center for Sustainable Urban Development
Expert in urban planning, sustainable development, effects of climate on cities.
See: http://sipa.columbia.edu/academics/directory/eds2-fac.html
http://www.earth.columbia.edu/ac/bios/sclar.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LFxcTkHPVHI
Contact: eds2@columbia.edu, 212-854-3548
Jeffrey Shaman
Professor Environmental Health Sciences, The Earth Institute
Public health, disease implications of disasters, climate and weather
See: http://blogs.ei.columbia.edu/2012/10/18/faculty-profile-jeffrey-shaman/
http://www.columbia.edu/~jls106/
Contact: jls106@columbia.edu 212-305-3590
Adam Sobel
Research scientist, Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory/Columbia Dept of Applied Physics & Math
Top expert in US East Coast weather, general physics of storms and climate connections.
See: http://www.ldeo.columbia.edu/user/sobel
http://www.climatecentral.org/blogs/how-hurricane-sandy-can-become-a-frankenstorm-15160 http://www.earth.columbia.edu/videos/watch/447
http://www.wnyc.org/shows/bl/2012/oct/26/)
Contact: Ahs129@columbia.edu, 212-854-6587
# # #
More information:
Kevin Krajick kkrajick@ei.columbia.edu 212-854-9729
Kyu Lee klee@ei.columbia.edu 212-851-0798
Kim Martineau kmartine@ldeo.columbia.edu 845-365-8708
Learn more about our Master of Public Administration in Environmental Science and Policy Program.
Subscribe to the MPA Environmental Science and Policy Newsletter
It was a big disaster………