Joint SDS and Tipping Points Seminar - Dr George Datseris (University of Exeter)
Wednesday, 13 May 2026 at 12:35
Multistability and intermingledness in complex high-dimensional data
Event details
Date: Wednesday 13 May
Time: 12:35 – 13:25
Location: Harrison 170 and online (Zoom)
Speaker: Dr George Datseris (University of Exeter)
Title: Multistability and intermingledness in complex high-dimensional data
Abstract: Multistability is a phenomenon prevalent in many natural systems and is particularly relevant for climate.
Indeed, a climate ``tipping element'' is a multistable component that may alter its steady state due to an external perturbation.
Despite having been studied extensively with toy models, multistability in realistic complex simulations remains understudied.
Arguably a reason for this the lack of applicable methodology that explicitly targets finite yet high-dimensional datasets.
In this work, inspired by recent breakthroughs in computational nonlinear dynamics, we formulate a workflow that analyses potentially multistable simulation data and decides algorithmically what are the alternative steady states contained within, if any.
The framework undergoes an optimization routine that showcases which observables in the data best differentiate the alternative states, and which ones do not differentiate at all, having impact for observational studies and early warning signals.
Finally, once the alternate states have been found, we define a computable quantifier inspired by the final state sensitivity concept in nonlinear dynamics that we call ``intermingledness''. It quantifies differences and similarities between alternate states, as well as for ``basins of attraction'', across various diagnostic variables. We analyze and present results using three diverse climate datasets: Atlantic ocean circulation, atmospheric midlatitude flows, and habitability of exoplanets. We also provide easy-to-use open source code for applying the workflow to new data.
Organiser
Mathematics and Statistics
Location
170/Harrison/Streatham Campus