Early warnings are too late when parameters change rapidly

Abstract Tipping (or sudden transition) from a desirable state to an undesirable one can result in catastrophic changes, affecting natural environments, human societies and economies. Early warning signals (EWSs) are developed to forewarn such an impending tipping. However, when control parameters a...

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Main Authors: Rohit Radhakrishnan, Induja Pavithran, Valerie Livina, Jürgen Kurths, R. I. Sujith
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-06-01
Series:Scientific Reports
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-06525-5
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author Rohit Radhakrishnan
Induja Pavithran
Valerie Livina
Jürgen Kurths
R. I. Sujith
author_facet Rohit Radhakrishnan
Induja Pavithran
Valerie Livina
Jürgen Kurths
R. I. Sujith
author_sort Rohit Radhakrishnan
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Tipping (or sudden transition) from a desirable state to an undesirable one can result in catastrophic changes, affecting natural environments, human societies and economies. Early warning signals (EWSs) are developed to forewarn such an impending tipping. However, when control parameters are varied fast, we observe that EWSs detect an impending tipping past bifurcation points; this questions the applicability of EWSs in preventing tipping. At the same time, the fast rate of change of parameter delays the actual tipping event, providing a borrowed window of safe operation. This delay in tipping offers a window for prevention through swift action. We demonstrate instances of both successful and unsuccessful preventions, in a paradigmatic thermoacoustic system—a horizontal Rijke tube. This work highlights the interplay of warning time, choice of prevention action and rate of variation of parameters in EWS-based prevention of tipping.
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institution OA Journals
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spelling doaj-art-4ae0ea5f6d39416794643fc202399b712025-08-20T02:37:57ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-06-0115111110.1038/s41598-025-06525-5Early warnings are too late when parameters change rapidlyRohit Radhakrishnan0Induja Pavithran1Valerie Livina2Jürgen Kurths3R. I. Sujith4Department of Aerospace Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology MadrasDepartment of Aerospace Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology MadrasData Science Department, National Physical LaboratoryPotsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK)Department of Aerospace Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology MadrasAbstract Tipping (or sudden transition) from a desirable state to an undesirable one can result in catastrophic changes, affecting natural environments, human societies and economies. Early warning signals (EWSs) are developed to forewarn such an impending tipping. However, when control parameters are varied fast, we observe that EWSs detect an impending tipping past bifurcation points; this questions the applicability of EWSs in preventing tipping. At the same time, the fast rate of change of parameter delays the actual tipping event, providing a borrowed window of safe operation. This delay in tipping offers a window for prevention through swift action. We demonstrate instances of both successful and unsuccessful preventions, in a paradigmatic thermoacoustic system—a horizontal Rijke tube. This work highlights the interplay of warning time, choice of prevention action and rate of variation of parameters in EWS-based prevention of tipping.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-06525-5
spellingShingle Rohit Radhakrishnan
Induja Pavithran
Valerie Livina
Jürgen Kurths
R. I. Sujith
Early warnings are too late when parameters change rapidly
Scientific Reports
title Early warnings are too late when parameters change rapidly
title_full Early warnings are too late when parameters change rapidly
title_fullStr Early warnings are too late when parameters change rapidly
title_full_unstemmed Early warnings are too late when parameters change rapidly
title_short Early warnings are too late when parameters change rapidly
title_sort early warnings are too late when parameters change rapidly
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-06525-5
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AT indujapavithran earlywarningsaretoolatewhenparameterschangerapidly
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AT jurgenkurths earlywarningsaretoolatewhenparameterschangerapidly
AT risujith earlywarningsaretoolatewhenparameterschangerapidly