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Fractal dimensions of Florida wetlands

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Date Issued:
1993
Summary:
Application of fractal concepts to geographic problems is reviewed. The basics of fractals are presented. Scale, self-similarity and their effects on natural phenomena are discussed. Eight sites (six wetland and two non-wetland) are studied. Using Landsat Multi-Spectral Scanner data, the fractal dimensions of the surface reflectance of the sites are calculated by the contour method. Values obtained are related to the type of wetland and the structure and processes that characterize that type of wetland. Forested wetlands were found to have the lowest fractal dimension. Mixed forested and non-forested had the highest. Marshy non-forested sites were higher than expected. Conclusions drawn are that physical characteristics of different wetlands result in measurable differences in fractal dimension. Fractals will be valuable in computer aided wetland identification in the future.
Title: Fractal dimensions of Florida wetlands.
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Name(s): King, Stephen James.
Florida Atlantic University, Degree grantor
Shaw, Shih-Lung, Thesis advisor
Charles E. Schmidt College of Science
Department of Geosciences
Type of Resource: text
Genre: Electronic Thesis Or Dissertation
Issuance: monographic
Date Issued: 1993
Publisher: Florida Atlantic University
Place of Publication: Boca Raton, Fla.
Physical Form: application/pdf
Extent: 150 p.
Language(s): English
Summary: Application of fractal concepts to geographic problems is reviewed. The basics of fractals are presented. Scale, self-similarity and their effects on natural phenomena are discussed. Eight sites (six wetland and two non-wetland) are studied. Using Landsat Multi-Spectral Scanner data, the fractal dimensions of the surface reflectance of the sites are calculated by the contour method. Values obtained are related to the type of wetland and the structure and processes that characterize that type of wetland. Forested wetlands were found to have the lowest fractal dimension. Mixed forested and non-forested had the highest. Marshy non-forested sites were higher than expected. Conclusions drawn are that physical characteristics of different wetlands result in measurable differences in fractal dimension. Fractals will be valuable in computer aided wetland identification in the future.
Identifier: 14892 (digitool), FADT14892 (IID), fau:11677 (fedora)
Collection: FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection
Note(s): Charles E. Schmidt College of Science
Thesis (M.A.)--Florida Atlantic University, 1993.
Subject(s): Wetlands--Florida
Fractals
Geography--Mathematical models
Held by: Florida Atlantic University Libraries
Persistent Link to This Record: http://purl.flvc.org/fcla/dt/14892
Sublocation: Digital Library
Use and Reproduction: Copyright © is held by the author, with permission granted to Florida Atlantic University to digitize, archive and distribute this item for non-profit research and educational purposes. Any reuse of this item in excess of fair use or other copyright exemptions requires permission of the copyright holder.
Use and Reproduction: http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/
Host Institution: FAU
Is Part of Series: Florida Atlantic University Digital Library Collections.