Abrupt Impacts of Climate Change: Anticipating Surprises

This book is an updated look at the issue of abrupt climate change and its potential impacts. This study differs from previous treatments of abrupt changes by focusing on abrupt climate changes and also abrupt climate impacts that have the potential to severely affect the physical climate system, natural systems, or human systems, often affecting multiple interconnected areas of concern.

The book summarizes the state of our knowledge about potential abrupt changes and abrupt climate impacts and categorizes changes that are already occurring, have a high probability of occurrence, or are unlikely to occur.

Contents
Summary
State of Knowledge on Abrupt Impacts of Climate Change
Anticipating Surprises
The Way Forward
1 Introduction
Previous Definitions of Abrupt Climate Change
Definition of Abrupt Climate Change for this Report
Historical Perspective—Previous Reports on Abrupt Change
2 Abrupt Changes of Primary Concern
Abrupt Changes in the Ocean
Abrupt Changes in the Atmosphere
Abrupt Changes at High Latitudes
Abrupt Changes in Ecosystems
3 Areas of Concern for Humans from Abrupt Changes
Ecosystem Services
Infrastructure
Other Areas of Importance for Humans from Abrupt Changes
4 The Way Forward
What Has Been Learned?
Anticipating Surprises
ACEWS: Need for Action
References
Appendix