ISSN:
1420-9136
Keywords:
Fractals
;
self-similarity
;
scale invariance
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Geosciences
,
Physics
Notes:
Abstract The definition of a fractal distribution is that the number of objectsN with a characteristic size greater thanr scales with the relationN∼r −D. The frequency-size distributions for islands, earthquakes, fragments, ore deposits, and oil fields often satisfy this relation. Fractals were originally introduced by Mandelbrot to relate the length of a coastline to the length of the measuring stick. This application illustrates a fundamental aspect of fractal distributions, scale invariance. The requirement of an object to define a scale in photographs of many geological features is one indication of the wide applicability of scale invariance to geological problems, scale invariance can lead to fractal clustering. Geophysical spectra can also be related to fractals; these are self-affine fractals rather than self-similar fractals. Examples include the earth's topography and geoid.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00874486
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