4 research outputs found
Social tipping points and Earth systems dynamics
Recently, Early Warning Signals (EWS) have been developed to predict tipping points in Earth Systems. This discussion highlights the potential to apply EWS to human social and economic systems, which may also undergo similar critical transitions. Social tipping points are particularly difficult to predict, however, and the current formulation of EWS, based on a physical system analogy, may be insufficient. As an alternative set of EWS for social systems, we join with other authors encouraging a focus on heterogeneity, connectivity through social networks and individual thresholds to change
A new early Holocene cryptotephra from northwest Scotland
Clarification of the temporal relationships amongst records of environmental change is dependent on accurate timescales. Event markers such as tephra layers are extremely important for constraining chronologies and providing tie points. In this report we present evidence of a previously unknown early Holocene Icelandic cryptotephra from a lake in northern Scotlandâthe âAn Druim Tephraâ. The calibrated radiocarbon age of 9560âcal.âyrâBP for this new cryptotephra makes it an important addition to the suite of cryptotephras now recorded from the last glacial termination and early Holocene in northwest Europe. In addition we report evidence in support of a âYounger Borrobol Tephraâ from Lateglacial sediments of AllerĂžd age