Critical transitions in nature and society
By: Marten Scheffer.
Series: Princeton studies in complexity
Publisher: Princeton University Press
Published: 2009
Place of publication: Princeton
Language: eng
Number of pages: 400
ISBN-13: 9780691122038; 9780691122045
Subjects: Ecological disturbances; Social evolution; Threshold logic; Global environmental change; Nature -- Effect of human beings on; Biogeography
Description: "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."--Publisher's description.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references and index.