Fractal characterization of inhomogeneous geophysical measuring networks
Abstract
The measuring stations of most in situ geophysical networks are spatially distributed in a highly inhomogeneous manner, being mainly concentrated on continents and population centers. When inhomogeneity occurs over a wide range of scales in a spatial dimension E, it can be characterized by a fractal dimension Dm. For measuring networks, Dm will usually be less than E. A world meteorological network is studied here which is on a surface for which E = 2, whereas the network has a Dm of about 1.75. It is argued that, whenever Dm is less than E, sufficiently sparsely distributed phenomena cannot be detected, even if the network is infinite. Because these rare phenomena are the most intense, this insufficient dimensional resolution is associated with biases in geophysical statistics, serious difficulties in interpolating measurements to a uniform grid, and problems in calibrating remotely sensed information.
- Publication:
-
Nature
- Pub Date:
- January 1986
- DOI:
- 10.1038/319043a0
- Bibcode:
- 1986Natur.319...43L
- Keywords:
-
- Geophysics;
- Ground Stations;
- Networks;
- Weather Stations;
- Fractals;
- Interpolation;
- Geophysics