Critical transitions in nature and society. / Marten Scheffer.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Scheffer, Marten, author.

Series:

Princeton studies in complexity.

Princeton studies in complexity

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Global environmental change.

Ecological disturbances.

Biogeography.

Nature--Effect of human beings on.

Nature.

Threshold logic.

System theory.

Social evolution.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (400 p.) : 6 halftones. 131 line illus.

Place of Publication:

Princeton, New Jersey : Princeton University Press, [2009]

Language Note:

In English.

Summary:

How do we explain the remarkably abrupt changes that sometimes occur in nature and society--and can we predict why and when they happen? This book offers a comprehensive introduction to critical transitions in complex systems--the radical changes that happen at tipping points when thresholds are passed. Marten Scheffer accessibly describes the dynamical systems theory behind critical transitions, covering catastrophe theory, bifurcations, chaos, and more. He gives examples of critical transitions in lakes, oceans, terrestrial ecosystems, climate, evolution, and human societies. And he demonstrates how to deal with these transitions, offering practical guidance on how to predict tipping points, how to prevent "bad" transitions, and how to promote critical transitions that work for us and not against us. Scheffer shows the time is ripe for understanding and managing critical transitions in the vast and complex systems in which we live. This book can also serve as a textbook and includes a detailed appendix with equations.Provides an accessible introduction to dynamical systems theory Covers critical transitions in lakes, oceans, terrestrial ecosystems, the climate, evolution, and human societies Explains how to predict tipping points Offers strategies for preventing "bad" transitions and triggering "good" ones Features an appendix with equations

Contents:

Frontmatter

Contents

Acknowledgments

CHAPTER 1. Introduction

Part I THEORY OF CRITICAL TRANSITIONS

CHAPTER 2. Alternative Stable States

CHAPTER 3. Cycles and Chaos

CHAPTER 4. Emergent Patterns in Complex Systems

CHAPTER 5. Implications of Fluctuations, Heterogeneity, and Diversity

CHAPTER 6. Conclusion: From Theoretical Concepts to Reality

Part II CASE STUDIES

CHAPTER 7. Lakes

CHAPTER 8. Climate

CHAPTER 9. Evolution

CHAPTER 10. Oceans

CHAPTER 11. Terrestrial Ecosystems

CHAPTER 12. Humans

CHAPTER 13. Conclusion: Critical Transitions in a Complex World

Part III DEALING WITH CRITICAL TRANSITIONS

CHAPTER 14. How to Know if Alternative Basins of Attraction Exist

CHAPTER 15. How to Know if a Threshold Is Near

CHAPTER 16. The Winding Road from Science to Policy

CHAPTER 17. New Approaches to Managing Change

CHAPTER 18. Prospects

Appendix

Glossary

Notes

Index

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Description based on print version record.

ISBN:

9781400833276

1400833272

OCLC:

1229162077