Normal forms for saddle-node bifurcations: Takens’ coefficient and applications in climate models

We show that a one-dimensional differential equation depending on a parameter μ with a saddle-node bifurcation at μ = 0 can be modelled by an extended normal form y ˙ = ν ( μ ) − y 2 + a ( μ ) y 3 , where the functions ν and a are solutions to equations that can be written down explicitly. The equivalence to the original equations is a local differentiable conjugacy on the basins of attraction and repulsion of stationary points in the parameter region for which these exist, and is a differentiable conjugacy on the whole local interval otherwise. (Recall that in standard approaches local equivalence is topological rather than differentiable.) The value a ( 0 ) is Takens’ coefficient from normal form theory. The results explain the sense in which normal forms extend away from the bifurcation point and provide a new and more detailed characterization of the saddle-node bifurcation. The one-dimensional system can be derived from higher dimensional equations using centre manifold theory. We illustrate this using two examples from climate science and show how the functions ν and a can be determined analytically in some settings and numerically in others.