Sensitivity to Initial Conditions

Sensitivity to initial conditions means that small differences in the starting state of a system can lead to vastly different outcomes over time. In practical terms, even tiny variations at the beginning can cause unpredictable or very different results later, making long-term predictions challenging. This concept is a key feature of chaotic systems, like weather patterns or complex ecosystems, where precise initial measurements are critical for accurate forecasts. It highlights why some systems are inherently unpredictable beyond a certain point, despite following deterministic physical laws.