![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/3KFGSYWTSHKWPSYHQ3PRMKWOFA.jpg?smart=true&auth=08a368ed525d905a29f38d49cd81c7f93295f7456333735491bc482c6ea132b1&width=400&height=225)
Coral reef die-off – Exposure to increased sea temperatures can kill off reefs, which has a serious effect on ecosystems and local economies.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/RUVMDR7QX3YO6FJQ2ML3JTL6FA.jpg?smart=true&auth=6a4ce95e5378f20e340a0526f00c0c4f6f4f22f44fb872e4286ba3075ca9624c&width=400&height=225)
Greenland ice sheet disintegration – Rising temperatures causing the retreat of the ice sheet, which would cause sea levels to rise.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/G5WPNM4OEJVKRWP7J7S672VUNY.jpg?smart=true&auth=0a2b6cf6261666557e8bfbf1f4442921e03a10fbaa252666593b75ed043005af&width=400&height=225)
Amazon rainforest dieback – Large-scale dieback of the forest, via increased temperatures and drying, or direct deforestation, would amplify global warming.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/BPD3VVJ7GVM7AKVRCY745NY43Q.jpg?smart=true&auth=6990d95ce2ae327f73beeae4ab476b7d0eddcca3496a81e882fbdf889c5c92ad&width=400&height=225)
Permafrost loss – Thawing of carbon-rich soils, which releases greenhouse gas into the atmosphere.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/VI4MO5CC5JDJ4H4M5W2NEURSCY.jpg?smart=true&auth=d6381cca07fe070f49a6b35e4de150fa88950d0799b9f23cb363a6a58fa29eac&width=400&height=225)
Atlantic meridional overturning circulation breakdown – An increased amount of freshwater in the Northern Atlantic disrupting the system of currents.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/BSV4ZZHQIH3BNX6WTTWO3JWOJI.jpg?smart=true&auth=86f9e9988670e59f8082808a11f66be8aea0a02e00ea6b8231e15206beb33a63&width=400&height=225)
Boreal forest shift – Warming causes dieback in the south of the forests, and expansion into the tundra in the north, which would cause regional warming.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/6IMY3RKXQ6VY6PPDL75MJVP6J4.jpg?smart=true&auth=74b74ee8b3806e45a0cdfebdd2e83847f18b5afa1dbf7b50ded0c9bd2d2860eb&width=400&height=225)
West Antarctic ice sheet disintegration – The melting of major ice sheets would lead to significant increases in sea level.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/MSLSEPHJMVO7LYFODO3XKMZN4U.jpg?smart=true&auth=7d237a1459638747c28b7a764a8473e6cc46adff6aa0b1e4a1802f1066215610&width=400&height=225)
West African monsoon shift – A change in the monsoon season would lead to agricultural disruption and effect the ecosystem.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/7OBLRYODOLOMKCRFQWDRKR7JOY.jpg?smart=true&auth=698e11900b5d5d45e6f833f385f77e0b574c74d1f2b4f059ef06b479057c7e7d&width=400&height=225)
Indian monsoon shift – An increase in the planetary albedo (increases in the atmospheric brown cloud haze over India) has the capability of switching off the monsoon, which is crucial for the local economy, as well as being important for agriculture.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/3KFGSYWTSHKWPSYHQ3PRMKWOFA.jpg?smart=true&auth=08a368ed525d905a29f38d49cd81c7f93295f7456333735491bc482c6ea132b1&width=400&height=225)
Coral reef die-off – Exposure to increased sea temperatures can kill off reefs, which has a serious effect on ecosystems and local economies.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/RUVMDR7QX3YO6FJQ2ML3JTL6FA.jpg?smart=true&auth=6a4ce95e5378f20e340a0526f00c0c4f6f4f22f44fb872e4286ba3075ca9624c&width=400&height=225)
Greenland ice sheet disintegration – Rising temperatures causing the retreat of the ice sheet, which would cause sea levels to rise.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/G5WPNM4OEJVKRWP7J7S672VUNY.jpg?smart=true&auth=0a2b6cf6261666557e8bfbf1f4442921e03a10fbaa252666593b75ed043005af&width=400&height=225)
Amazon rainforest dieback – Large-scale dieback of the forest, via increased temperatures and drying, or direct deforestation, would amplify global warming.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/BPD3VVJ7GVM7AKVRCY745NY43Q.jpg?smart=true&auth=6990d95ce2ae327f73beeae4ab476b7d0eddcca3496a81e882fbdf889c5c92ad&width=400&height=225)
Permafrost loss – Thawing of carbon-rich soils, which releases greenhouse gas into the atmosphere.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/VI4MO5CC5JDJ4H4M5W2NEURSCY.jpg?smart=true&auth=d6381cca07fe070f49a6b35e4de150fa88950d0799b9f23cb363a6a58fa29eac&width=400&height=225)
Atlantic meridional overturning circulation breakdown – An increased amount of freshwater in the Northern Atlantic disrupting the system of currents.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/BSV4ZZHQIH3BNX6WTTWO3JWOJI.jpg?smart=true&auth=86f9e9988670e59f8082808a11f66be8aea0a02e00ea6b8231e15206beb33a63&width=400&height=225)
Boreal forest shift – Warming causes dieback in the south of the forests, and expansion into the tundra in the north, which would cause regional warming.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/6IMY3RKXQ6VY6PPDL75MJVP6J4.jpg?smart=true&auth=74b74ee8b3806e45a0cdfebdd2e83847f18b5afa1dbf7b50ded0c9bd2d2860eb&width=400&height=225)
West Antarctic ice sheet disintegration – The melting of major ice sheets would lead to significant increases in sea level.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/MSLSEPHJMVO7LYFODO3XKMZN4U.jpg?smart=true&auth=7d237a1459638747c28b7a764a8473e6cc46adff6aa0b1e4a1802f1066215610&width=400&height=225)
West African monsoon shift – A change in the monsoon season would lead to agricultural disruption and effect the ecosystem.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/7OBLRYODOLOMKCRFQWDRKR7JOY.jpg?smart=true&auth=698e11900b5d5d45e6f833f385f77e0b574c74d1f2b4f059ef06b479057c7e7d&width=400&height=225)
Indian monsoon shift – An increase in the planetary albedo (increases in the atmospheric brown cloud haze over India) has the capability of switching off the monsoon, which is crucial for the local economy, as well as being important for agriculture.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/3KFGSYWTSHKWPSYHQ3PRMKWOFA.jpg?smart=true&auth=08a368ed525d905a29f38d49cd81c7f93295f7456333735491bc482c6ea132b1&width=400&height=225)
Coral reef die-off – Exposure to increased sea temperatures can kill off reefs, which has a serious effect on ecosystems and local economies.
Why climate tipping points may not be tipping points after all
New research suggests environmental damage is reversible if thresholds are crossed only briefly
Tim Kiek
21 April, 2021
- Listen In English
- Listen In Arabic