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Climate Tipping Points
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 The following excerpts are from Target Atmospheric CO2: Where Should Humanity Aim?, published in the Open Atmosphere Science Journal by James Hansen et al in 2008.
4.1. Tipping points
Realization that today’s climate is far out of equilibrium with current climate forcings raises the specter of ‘tipping points’, the concept that climate can reach a point where, without additional forcing, rapid changes proceed practically out of our control. Arctic sea ice and the West Antarctic Ice Sheet are examples of potential tipping points. Arctic sea ice loss is magnified by the positive feedback of increased absorption of sunlight as global warming initiates sea ice retreat. West Antarctic ice loss can be accelerated by several feedbacks, once ice loss is substantial. |
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Read more...
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Climate Tipping Points
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The following excerpts are from Target Atmospheric CO2: Where Should Humanity Aim?, published in the Open Atmosphere Science Journal by James Hansen et al in 2008.
Excerpt:
A CO2 amount of order 450 ppm or larger, if long maintained, would push Earth toward the ice-free state. Although ocean and ice sheet inertia limit the rate of climate change, such a CO2 level likely would cause the passing of climate tipping points and initiate dynamic responses that could be out of humanity’s control.
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