Climate as a complex adaptive system

Posted May 30, 2017 by sgibbs

Reflect on the characteristics of complex adaptive systems that can be seen in Climate.

Comments

Submitted by kcwgtt on Wed, 06/28/2017 - 15:51 · Permalink

Climate is a complex adaptive system because of its many components, the relationship between those components, and its leaderless interactions. There are many agents that are involved in climate: CO2, Greenhouse gases, factories, cars, fossil fuels, and a host of others play a role in climate. The relationship of the agents can cause a wide array of climate responses. For example, CO2 emissions increase more infrared rays are trapped causing the earth's surface to heat up. There is no single agent in control of climate. Climate occurs due to the relationship of all of the agents to create a climate.

Submitted by eso on Thu, 06/29/2017 - 14:58 · Permalink

A complex adaptive system 1) follows simple rules, 2) has no leader, and 3) has emergent phenomenon that are unpredictable. Climate is an example of a complex adaptive system because it incorporates the circulation of energy through Earth's matter following the laws of physics, i.e. simple rules. There is no leader in climate, except for how water and energy flow through their systems by the laws of physics. Emergent phenomenon are changing temperatures and precipitation patterns. 

Submitted by person11d on Mon, 08/07/2017 - 00:41 · Permalink

Climate is a complex adaptive system as it has the appropriate characteristics. It lacks a leader, there are patterns that emerge, it is nonlinear, has feedback loops, and has a chaotic behavior.