When Gradual Becomes Sudden

Most people think of climate change as a slow, steady process — a little warmer each decade, a bit more sea level rise each century. But Earth's climate system contains tipping points: thresholds beyond which change becomes self-reinforcing and irreversible on human timescales.

Scientists have identified roughly sixteen potential tipping points in the Earth system. The interactions between them are not fully understood, but the consequences of crossing even one are severe enough that the precautionary principle strongly favors avoiding them all.