A Century of Nonlinearity in the Geosciences

Abstract

Abstract This paper provides a thumbnail sketch of the evolution of nonlinear ideas in the mathematics and physics of the geosciences, broadly construed, over the last hundred or so years. It emphasizes the mathematical concepts and methods and outlines simple examples of how they were, are, and maybe will be applied to the solid Earth—that is, the crust, mantle, and core—and its fluid envelopes—that is, the atmosphere and oceans.

Keywords

• 1700 history of geophysics
• 3305 climate change and variability
• 4410 bifurcations and attractors
• 4490 turbulence
• 4513 decadal ocean variability
• 7209 earthquake dynamics