Emergence of a Multiplicity of Time Scales in the Modelling of Climate, Matter, Life, and Economy

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Abstract

This topic review communicates working experiences regarding the interaction of a multiplicity of processes. We draw on examples of climate change modelling, materials science, cell physiology, public health, and macroeconomic modelling. Recent years have witnessed astonishing advances not only in broadband temporal frequency sampling, multiscale modelling, and fast large-scale numerical simulation of complex systems, but also in the continual uncertainty of many science-based results. In accordance with the aims of this collection, in this chapter we describe and analyze properties that depend on the time scale of the measurement, structural instability, tipping points, thresholds, hysteresis, and feedback mechanisms with runaways, stabilization or delays. While paying tribute to the advances in data collection and interpretation, we point to grave disorientation in statistical sampling, the interpretation of observations, and the design of control when neglecting the presence or emergence of multiple characteristic times. To us, environmental research is the preferred field of application to demonstrate the meaning of these working experiences, mostly gained in materials science, public health, and macroeconomics.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationMultiplicity of Time Scales in Complex Systems : Challenges for Sciences and Communication II
EditorsBernhelm Booß-Bavnbek, Jens Hesselbjerg Christensen, Katherine Richardson, Oriol Vallès Codina
Number of pages98
Place of PublicationCham
PublisherSpringer
Publication date8 Nov 2023
Pages365-462
Article number12
ChapterPart II
ISBN (Print)978-3-031-45104-1
ISBN (Electronic)978-3-031-45105-8
Publication statusPublished - 8 Nov 2023
EventMultiplicity of Time Scales in Complex Systems: Challenges for Sciences and Dissemination - The Royal Danish Academy of Sciences and Letters, København, Denmark
Duration: 24 Aug 202125 Aug 2021
https://events.ruc.dk/timescales/

Conference

ConferenceMultiplicity of Time Scales in Complex Systems
LocationThe Royal Danish Academy of Sciences and Letters
Country/TerritoryDenmark
CityKøbenhavn
Period24/08/202125/08/2021
Internet address
SeriesMathematics Online First Collections
ISSN2730-633X

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