What Happens When Change Comes to the Ocean?

Anyone who has enjoyed body surfing in the ocean understands the notion of a tipping point. There you are, paddling your body through the water as fast as you can on the swell of a small wave. Bit by bit the wave increases in size, lifting you up from the surface of the ocean. At a certain point, you and the wave tumble forward and sweep against the shore. It is that moment, on the crest of the wave when there is no going back, that is the tipping point.