Abrupt change is a hallmark of the climate record. It has happened in the past, and is already happening in some systems now.
Abrupt climate change—large shifts in climate that take place within decades or even years—is the topic of increasing concern because of the potential for such changes to happen faster than society or ecosystems could adapt. A new report from the National Research Council evaluates the potential for abrupt changes in the ocean, atmosphere, ecosystems, and high latitude regions to help decision makers and communities make informed decisions about how to prepare for sudden changes. The report calls for an early warning system to help society better anticipate abrupt changes.
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Read the blog post "What to Expect When You're Expecting Abrupt Climate Change," by report authors James White and Richard Alley.
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Check out a slide show of images and figures from the report, or watch a recording of the webcast briefing.
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Download a PDF file of the abrupt climate change poster presented at the American Geophysical Union meeting Dec. 2013. It outlines what's happening already and what's not thought to be an immediate danger, and calls for an early warning system.
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Read a short interview with Jim White about abrupt climate change and what we can do.
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Watch a 4-minute video introducing the report and outlining its findings.
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Watch Jim's White's talk on abrupt climate change past, present, and future, given as the Nye Lecture, American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting, December 2014.
