Concerns are rising that several subsystems of the Earth may respond highly nonlinearly to future levels of anthropogenic forcing from greenhouse gas emissions. These levels are associated with tipping elements such as the Atlantic ocean circulation, leading to abrupt transitions. Most of these tipping elements do not stand on their own, but are dynamically coupled. In particular, this means that cascades of abrupt transitions can occur and affect the whole climate system. Moreover, the impact of climate tipping on societies can be much more global rather than regional. 

Andrea is investigating how climate tipping rather than gradual climate change affects socioeconomic systems and in potential tipping cascades across (physical) climate and socio-economic systems.