Is it a contradiction in terms to imagine that you can study chaos scientifically and mathematically? The scientific community at large вЂ“ not only climate science вЂ“ while giving lip service to chaotic pattern formation as a real phenomenon, generally shrinks back from serious engagement with it, back into the comfortable regions of tidy linear and equilibrium equations. well, chaotic and unpredictable indeed for some the movement of a system into the chaotic region represents falling off the edge of the world of scientific testability and orthodox Popperian experimental investigation. But here one runs into the problem of chaotic systems being. However, a вЂњsenseвЂќ is hardly adequate scientifically it is necessary to go further than this and forge some kind of physical and mathematical model or hypothesis which can be tested.

Simply on account of the huge complexity of climate over the expanse of earthвЂ™s surface and deep time, and also the obvious impossibility of equilibrium in a rotating system with continuous substantial imbalances of heat and kinetic energy. Anyone acquainted at all with the nature of dynamical chaos and nonlinear / non-equilibrium pattern formation, and who also has an interest in the scientific questions about climate, cannot fail to sense that dynamical chaos has to be an important player in climate. One of the themes to emerge from the climate debate here on WUWT, concerns вЂњchaosвЂќ and nonlinear system dynamics and pattern.

The Amazing BZ reaction in a stirred beaker - time lapse photo - Image via WikipediaДЄlternative title: вЂњStanding on the shoulders of Giant BobвЂќ

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