Comments on: Tipping Points in the Earth System – an icon of climate change? http://rs.resalliance.org/2005/11/03/tipping-points-in-the-earth-system-an-icon-of-climate-change/ coping with ecological surprise in a human dominated world Thu, 18 Mar 2010 15:09:29 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Planet: global change website at Resilience Science http://rs.resalliance.org/2005/11/03/tipping-points-in-the-earth-system-an-icon-of-climate-change/comment-page-1/#comment-17471 Planet: global change website at Resilience Science Thu, 05 Apr 2007 03:18:29 +0000 http://blog.resalliance.org/?p=85#comment-17471 [...] which is a bit annoying for linking (you can’t), but among other things - it includes bits on tipping points in the climate system, resilience, and [...] [...] which is a bit annoying for linking (you can’t), but among other things – it includes bits on tipping points in the climate system, resilience, and [...]

]]> By: Alan Roberts http://rs.resalliance.org/2005/11/03/tipping-points-in-the-earth-system-an-icon-of-climate-change/comment-page-1/#comment-130 Alan Roberts Sat, 25 Feb 2006 00:40:20 +0000 http://blog.resalliance.org/?p=85#comment-130 As a tipping point icon a boat with lots of people irreversibly over the lip of a huge water fall might work, if good perspective depth could be got in. As a tipping point icon a boat with lots of people irreversibly over the lip of a huge water fall might work, if good perspective depth could be got in.

]]> By: Michelle McKay http://rs.resalliance.org/2005/11/03/tipping-points-in-the-earth-system-an-icon-of-climate-change/comment-page-1/#comment-129 Michelle McKay Fri, 02 Dec 2005 23:23:09 +0000 http://blog.resalliance.org/?p=85#comment-129 I agree that the map is not ideal in that it is not instantly recognizable, particularly with regard to the concept of tipping points, used in this context, i.e. activities and events that have the capacity to force the global system past thresholds. In that respect, the see-saw may not be ideal either, in that it visually implies a reversibility, which is not the case in the sort of positive feedback loops created when thresholds in the climate system are crossed. I unfortunately cannot think of an alternative, but something that depicts a sort of "point of no return" may be more aligned with the message. I agree that the map is not ideal in that it is not instantly recognizable, particularly with regard to the concept of tipping points, used in this context, i.e. activities and events that have the capacity to force the global system past thresholds. In that respect, the see-saw may not be ideal either, in that it visually implies a reversibility, which is not the case in the sort of positive feedback loops created when thresholds in the climate system are crossed.

I unfortunately cannot think of an alternative, but something that depicts a sort of “point of no return” may be more aligned with the message.

]]> By: Fred W Hendrick http://rs.resalliance.org/2005/11/03/tipping-points-in-the-earth-system-an-icon-of-climate-change/comment-page-1/#comment-128 Fred W Hendrick Mon, 28 Nov 2005 18:20:16 +0000 http://blog.resalliance.org/?p=85#comment-128 I read the article in Nature (437-7063) 27 Oct 2005. Schellnhuber's Tipping Point Map is a great reference tool; but it misses the mark as an icon. An icon should have instant recognition without the need of explanation. Did you consider a see-saw "tipping" greatly to one side with natural process on the losing side and man-made effects on the other? Or any icon utilizing the see-saw to represent the "tipping points"? I read the article in Nature (437-7063) 27 Oct 2005.
Schellnhuber’s Tipping Point Map is a great reference tool; but it misses the mark as an icon. An icon should have instant recognition without the need of explanation.

Did you consider a see-saw “tipping” greatly to one side with natural process on the losing side and man-made effects on the other? Or any icon utilizing the see-saw to represent the “tipping points”?

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