Critical Transitions in Nature and Society

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

Author: Marten Scheffer
Publisher: Princeton University Press
Published: 07/26/2009
Pages: 400
Binding Type: Paperback
Weight: 0.95lbs
Size: 8.40h x 5.40w x 0.80d
ISBN: 9780691122045

Review Citation(s):
Choice 11/01/2009

About the Author
Marten Scheffer is professor of environmental sciences at Wageningen University in the Netherlands. He is the author of Ecology of Shallow Lakes.