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About this book
Introduces the fundamental concepts of fractal geometry and chaotic dynamics and relates them to a variety of geological and geophysical problems.
Contents
Preface; Preface to the second edition; 1. Scale invariance; 2. Definition of a fractal set; 3. Fragmentation; 4. Seismicity and tectonics; 5. Ore grade and tonnage; 6. Fractal clustering; 7. Self-affine fractals; 8. Geomorphology; 9. Dynamical systems; 10. Logistic map; 11. Slider-block models; 12. Lorenz equations; 13. Is mantle convection chaotic?; 14. Rikitake dynamo; 15. Renormalization group method; 16. Self-organized criticality; 17. Where do we stand?; References; Appendix A: glossary of terms; Appendix B: units and symbols; Answers to selected problems; Index.
Customer Reviews
By: Donald L Turcotte
398 pages, 4 col photos, 80 figs, tabs
'Fractals and Chaos in Geology and Geophysics, Second Edition, is the best technical introduction to chaos known to me ... All of the basic concepts of chaos theory are introduced and exquisitely explained in terms of a selection of examples, most of which are taken from the Earth sciences ... To conclude, this book demonstrates beautifully that chaos is neither frivolous like the flapping of wings by a butterfly nor arid like complexity or the nonconvergence of an iterative procedure; it shows the weighty, substantial nature of this subject. The book can be unhesitatingly recommended not only to students and nonspecialists, but certainly also to the working scientist and the teacher.' Michael Danos, EOS, Transactions, American Geophysical Union '... this book will prove very useful to those trying to learn the subject ... The goal of the author was to introduce the fundamental concepts at the lowest level of mathematics that is consistent with the understanding and application of the concepts. He succeeded very well in both first and second editions of this stimulating book Fractals and Chaos in Geology and Geophysics.' Jacques Dubois, Tectonophysics '... recommended to all who seek an introduction into current approaches to characterizing and modeling complexity in nature.' Pure and Applied Geophysics 'Anyone with an interest in applied mathematics or statistics and the natural world should find this attractively produced book hard to put down ... this is an excellent book, recommended both for individual and library purchase.' Richard J. Howarth, Mathematics Today