News: EAS

Lastarria Volcano

For grounded forecast of volcanic unrest, spy from above

By: Blaine Friedlander

To better predict explosive, fiery volcanic activity, Kevin Reath, postdoctoral researcher and Matthew Prichard, Professor in EAS, have proposed a new classification system to discern the stages of a volcano’s unrest – as seen from smart, perceptive satellites. Read more

Emily First

Cornell linked to three 51 Pegasi b astronomy postdocs

By: Alisha Gupta

Emily First, a winner of the Pegasi b Fellowship in Planetary Astronomy, will be joining Cornell for three years of postdoctoral work under the mentorship of Esebtan Gazel from Earth and Atmospheric Sciences. First will gather a wide variety of rock types, representative of those on rocky planets across the solar system. She will measure how the rocks absorb and emit light and synthesize these findings into an accessible catalog. Read more

Two EAS grad students were awarded an OPSA

Paula Burgi and Paul Morgan, two graduate students in Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, received Outstanding Student Presentation Awards at the Fall meeting of the American Geophysical Union held in San Francisco in December 2019. This is the largest professional meeting in the field of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences with about 25,000 attendees. This award is typically given to the top 2-5% of presenters in each section. Read more

Mark Wysocki

Professor Mark Wysocki quoted in the New York Times on Climate Change

By: Anne Barnard

Mark Wysocki, Professor in EAS, was quoted in the New York Times on the effect climate change has on the volatility of snowfall in NYC. “When you can have no snow within a five-year period or you could have record-setting snow, how do I plan a budget for a city like that with this kind of volatility?" Mr. Wysocki said. “Some years you save. Some years you go overboard.” Read more

wind energy

Quadrupling turbines, U.S. can meet 2030 wind-energy goals

By: Blaine Friedlander

According to new research from Professor Sara Pryor from EAS and Professor Rebecca Barthelmie from MAE, the United States could generate 20% of its electricity from wind energy within 10 years. “The United States currently produces about 7% of its electricity from wind energy,” said Sara C. Pryor , professor in the Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences. “This research shows that a quadrupling of the installed capacity of wind turbines from 2014 levels will allow us to attain the goal of 20% of electricity from the wind, without requiring additional land, or negative impacts on... Read more

Gregory McLaskey

Earthquake-Simulating Machine Leads Cornell Prof. Gregory McLaskey ’05 to National Award

By: Ari Dubow

Assistant Professor Gregory McLanskey, a field faculty member in Geological Sciences, received the $500,000 National Science Foundation early career award. The award supports “early-career faculty who have the potential to serve as academic role models in research and education and to lead advances in the mission of their department or organization,” according to the NSF website . The academic work worthy of this award should work toward “integrating education and research.” Read more

Dust in the Atmosphere May Have Fertilized the Ancient Ocean

By: Rachel Crowell

New research investigates dust’s role in primary production during the Carboniferous and Permian periods. "It is fascinating that this mechanism that has been explored extensively in the current climate, and the glacial/interglacial cycles, could also be operating so far in the past," said EAS Professor Natalie Mahowald. Read more