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Viking12
Viking12's Journal
Viking12's Journal
June 22, 2012
Approaching a state shift in Earth's biosphere
ruh roh
Approaching a state shift in Earths biosphere
| NATURE | VOL 486 | 7 JUNE 2012
Localized ecological systems are known to shift abruptly and irreversibly from one state to another when they are forced across critical thresholds. Here we review evidence that the global ecosystem as a whole can react in the same way and is approaching a planetary-scale critical transition as a result of human influence. The plausibility of a planetary-scale tipping point highlights the need to improve biological forecasting by detecting early warning signs of critical transitions on global as well as local scales, and by detecting feedbacks that promote such transitions. It is also necessary to address root causes of how humans are forcing biological changes.
http://www.ecoearth.info/shared/docfeed/biosphere_state_shift_nature.pdf
| NATURE | VOL 486 | 7 JUNE 2012
Localized ecological systems are known to shift abruptly and irreversibly from one state to another when they are forced across critical thresholds. Here we review evidence that the global ecosystem as a whole can react in the same way and is approaching a planetary-scale critical transition as a result of human influence. The plausibility of a planetary-scale tipping point highlights the need to improve biological forecasting by detecting early warning signs of critical transitions on global as well as local scales, and by detecting feedbacks that promote such transitions. It is also necessary to address root causes of how humans are forcing biological changes.
http://www.ecoearth.info/shared/docfeed/biosphere_state_shift_nature.pdf
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Member since: Thu Jan 15, 2004, 04:23 PMNumber of posts: 6,012