What is a 'hothouse Earth' trajectory?

A 'hothouse Earth' trajectory refers to a path of extreme warming and sea level rise, potentially triggered by destabilizing Earth systems and amplifying feedback loops that are difficult to reverse.

What are Earth's 'tipping elements'?

Tipping elements are critical Earth subsystems, such as ice sheets, rainforests, and ocean currents, that can become unstable if temperature thresholds are passed, potentially leading to cascading climate impacts.

Why are urgent climate mitigation strategies needed?

Urgent strategies are needed because critical Earth systems are destabilizing, pushing the planet toward a potentially irreversible 'hothouse' state, with consequences that may be difficult to reverse on human timescales.

Home / Science / Earth Nears 'Hothouse' Path: Scientists Warn of Unraveling Systems

Earth Nears 'Hothouse' Path: Scientists Warn of Unraveling Systems

12 Feb

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Summary

Critical Earth systems show signs of destabilization, nearing a 'hothouse' trajectory.
Multiple planetary subsystems are identified as tipping elements close to instability.
Reversal of extreme warming and sea level rise may be impossible on human timescales.

Earth Nears 'Hothouse' Path: Scientists Warn of Unraveling Systems

Multiple critical Earth systems are showing signs of destabilization, suggesting the planet may be closer to a 'hothouse' trajectory than previously understood. An international research collaboration highlights that these destabilizations could trigger cascading interactions among subsystems, accelerating extreme warming and sea level rise.

Sixteen key 'tipping elements,' or Earth subsystems sensitive to temperature thresholds, are identified as being near instability. These include major ice sheets, glaciers, permafrost, rainforests, and ocean circulation patterns like the AMOC. Crossing these thresholds could lead to consequences difficult to reverse on human timescales.