Ecological Tipping Point

Definition

Ecological Tipping Point denotes a set of conditions of an ecological system where further perturbation will cause change to a new state and prevent the system from returning to its former state .

Climate Change Tipping Points

A tipping point is a threshold after which certain changes caused by global warming and climate change become irreversible, even if future interventions are successful in driving down average global temperatures.

These changes may lead to abrupt and dangerous impacts with very serious implications for the future of humanity and our planet.. As the world gets hotter, several tipping points are becoming very likely.

Examples

• One of potential tipping points is the collapse of the Greenland and West Antarctic ice sheets, which would lead to significant sea level rise and threaten coastal communities and ecosystems.
• Another example the thawing of the permafrost in the tundra regions, which will release huge quantities of trapped greenhouse gases, further accelerating global warming and climate change.
• Mass coral bleaching events and the destruction of rainforests are two other major tipping points with immense implications for both biodiversity and human societies.

Futher Resources

• The Climate Dictionary Quiz