The Complex Dyanmics of the Climate System

摘要: Publisher Summary This chapter describes the contribution of complexity science to understanding climate system and unique challenges its complex properties pose predictions policy analysis. First, it presents a brief exploration Earth's through lens science. Then, introduces data sources modeling strategies that uses understand past behavior, fingerprint causes current changes, project future climate. The dynamics constrain ability gain knowledge about add uncertainty impacts human-induced change. It also investigates six case studies illustrate importance development key themes in science: glacial-interglacial cycles, thermohaline ocean circulation, ice sheets, vegetation cover extinction, overshoot scenarios. In addition, implications Earth for Assessments change are often disciplinary-based not sufficiently integrative across important disciplinary subcomponents, producing misleading results have potentially dangerous environmental consequences. framework cost-benefit optimization is particularly flawed. Further, how one should restructure analysis as an integrated assessment process, combining relationships from physical, biological social sciences, includes robust assessments potential risks within vulnerability framework.