title: tipping points
When a system fundamentally changes structure and function, settling into a new stable state.
- Nonlinear effects
- Can have very big consequences
- Not easy to reverse
- Difficult to predict
Feedback Loops
- Feedback loops keep the system in its stable state
- As feedback loops change direction or if the feedback loop of the alternate regime become increasingly strong they can create sudden changes
- Systems that have higher resilience will be more resistant to regime shifts
Example of Rainforests
- Water-generating feedback loop
- High density of plants traps moisture and generates rainfall
- Rainfall allows vegetation to thrive
- As you cut down the forests, you break the feedback loop, and set it in the opposite direction
- No plants to trap heat, no rainfall, less plants, less rainfall etc…
Global Tipping Elements
Example of Coral Reefs
- shifts from diverse coral reefs
- dominated by coral, have rich fish populations,
- supporting lots of tourist industries
- protect the coast from storms;
- to algae-dominated reefs
- much less fish often, much smaller fish, and not diverse community of things
- big impacts for both the ability of local people to persist, and on the conservation of nature.
Created on: 2020-12-28 Inspired by: Course - Planetary Boundaries Related: complex adaptive systems | biosphere stewardship