Interconnected Systems

Interconnected Physical and Socio‑Economic Systems. As new policies and technologies are developed amid climate and other global changes, they interact with environmental processes and institutions in ways that can alter the Earth’s critical life‑support systems. Fundamental mechanisms that determine many of these systems’ behaviors, including those related to interacting climate, water, food and socio‑economic systems, remain largely unknown and poorly quantified. Better understanding can help society mitigate the risks of abrupt changes and “tipping points” in these systems.

News + Media

Research Insight

MIT Department of Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences

Oct 23, 2026

Q&A: How ocean carbon sequestration changes under different glacial conditions

By separating the effects of cold seawater, Antarctic sea ice, and changing ocean circulation on deep-ocean carbon storage, new research co-authored by MIT Professor Raffaele Ferrari and Research Scientist Jonathan Lauderdale--both CS3 affiliates--sheds light on how these interactions influence climate patterns (MIT Department of Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences)

In The Media

Smithsonian Magazine

Oct 9, 2026

September’s ozone hole was the biggest it has been in 25 years

The size of the hole in the stratosphere’s ozone layer fluctuates every year, but last month’s, measuring 10.6 million square miles, was especially large. However, longer term trends indicate that the ozone hole is slowly recovering as expected, says MIT Professor/CS3 faculty affiliate Susan Solomon. (Smithsonian Magazine)