Multifractal Topography: A Tool to Measure Tectonic Complexity in the Zagros Mountain Range

Kolahi-Azar, Amir Pirooz; Golriz, Sahereh

doi:10.1007/s11004-017-9720-z

Cited by 10 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 40 publications

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“…Multifractality has also been demonstrated using the wavelet leaders technique in mountain ranges where heterogeneous tectonic processes form complex topography characterized by a range of scaling exponents over a narrow spatial extent (Kolahi‐Azar & Golriz, ). Our results similarly show heterogeneous scaling for one‐dimensional transects extracted from a relatively narrow bathymetric swath in part due to different hydrodynamic processes operating on the backreef (Hench & Rosman, ), reef crest (Hench et al, ), and forereef (Monismith et al, ; Rogers et al, ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Collapsing Complexity: Quantifying Multiscale Properties of Reef Topography

2019

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Seafloor topography affects a wide range of physical and biological processes; therefore, collapsing the three‐dimensional structure of the bottom to roughness metrics is a common challenge in studies of marine systems. Here we assessed the properties captured by metrics previously proposed for the seafloor, as well as metrics developed to characterize other types of rough surfaces. We considered three classes of metrics: properties of the bottom elevation distribution (e.g., standard deviation), length scale ratios (e.g., rugosity), and metrics that describe how topography varies with spatial scale (e.g., Hölder exponents). The metrics were assessed using idealized topography and natural seafloor topography data from airborne lidar measurements of a coral reef. We illustrate that common roughness metrics (e.g., rugosity) can have the same value for topographies that are geometrically very different, limiting their utility. Application of the wavelet leaders technique to the reef data set demonstrates that the topography has a power law scaling behavior, but it is multifractal so a distribution of Hölder exponents is needed to describe its scaling behavior. Using principal component analysis, we identify three dominant modes of topographic variability, or ways metrics covary, among and within reef zones. Collectively, the results presented here show that coral reef topography is both multiscale and multifractal. While individual metrics that capture specific topography properties relevant to a given process may be suitable for some studies, many applications will require a set of metrics that includes statistics that capture how topography varies with spatial scale.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Collapsing Complexity: Quantifying Multiscale Properties of Reef Topography

2019

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“…The Zagros mountains, in Iran, with a length of 1600 km from north to south and 240 km from east to west, include large areas of forests and woodlands 5 . Persian oak ( Quercus brantii Lindl.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Adaptive mechanism in Quercus brantii Lindl. leaves under climatic differentiation: morphological and anatomical traits

Soheili

Heydari

Woodward

et al. 2023

Sci Rep

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Leaf traits, which vary across different climatic conditions, can reveal evolutionary changes within a species made to adapt to the environment. Leaf traits play major roles in a plant functions under varying climatic conditions. To examine adaptive modes and mechanisms applied by plants in different climates, we analyzed leaf morphology and anatomical structures in Quercus brantii in the Zagros forests, Western Iran. The plants adapted to the environmental differences with increased dry matter content in a Mediterranean climate, and increasing leaf length, specific leaf area, stomata length (SL), stomata width, stomatal density (SD), stomatal pore index (SPI), trichome length, and width in a sub-humid climate; trichome density was increased in a semi-arid climate. There were strong, positive correlations between SPI with SL and SD. Correlations for other leaf traits were weakly significant. Such morphological and anatomical plasticity probably leads to lower transpiration rates, control of internal temperature and water status, and improved photosynthetic capability under stressing conditions. These findings provide new insights into the adaptive strategies of plants to environmental changes at the morphological and anatomical levels.

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“…Earlier studies using fractals were primarily conceptual in discussion regarding the control of the geomorphological processes on the fractal characteristics of the topography (Sayles and Thomas, 1978; Burrough, 1981; Brown and Scholz, 1985; Goodchild and Mark, 1987; Gilbert, 1989; Chase, 1992; Lifton and Chase, 1992; Gao and Xia, 1996). The focus has shifted in recent studies towards the classification of landscapes into different geological–geomorphological settings based on their fractal characteristics and interpretation of the role of the governing processes (Bishop et al ., 1998; Sung et al ., 1998; Baas, 2002; Stepinski et al ., 2004; Dombrádi et al ., 2007; Bi et al ., 2012; Mahmood and Gloaguen, 2012; Donadio et al ., 2015; Dutta, 2017; Gaidzik and Ramírez‐Herrera, 2017; Kolahi‐Azar and Golriz, 2018). Some of these studies also emphasized the effect of the combined action of surface (exogenous) and subsurface (endogenous) processes on the fractal properties of the topography, with the aid of statistical analyses of the estimated fractal parameters (e.g.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Process inference from topographic fractal characteristics in the tectonically active Northwest Himalaya, India

Sahoo

Singh

Jain

2020

Earth Surf Processes Landf

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Topography evolves under the coupled effect of exogenic and endogenic governing factors, and their scale-(in)variant dynamics. This results in a self-affine topography across a finite range, with a characteristic fractal dimension. Fractal analysis has been used to classify geological terrains having distinct litho-tectonic settings. However, process-based understanding of the fractal behaviour of a natural landscape is still limited. The current study aims to substantiate and expand upon the present knowledge of topographic response to the complex actions of the governing factors using fractal characteristics. We examined the association between the litho-tectonic, climatic settings and the fractal characteristics of the topography in the tectonically active Northwest Himalaya. Our analysis was carried out in three separate sectors having diverse litho-tectonic settings. We used the roughnesslength method to calculate the fractal parameters (fractal dimension, D; ordinate intercept, q). The Higher and the Lesser Himalaya were found to be characterized by low D and high q, while the tectonically active Sub Himalaya was found to have moderate D and low q. The southernmost foreland alluvial plains were characterized by high D and low q. Clusters of the fractal parameters were found to be consistent in spatial pattern across the three sectors. Our results showed that the geological-geomorphological settings and the associated processes (e.g. uplift, erosion and diffusion) can be well inferred using the fractal characteristics of the topography. Further, our results implied first-order control of lithology in sustaining and shaping the topographic geometry (both its amplitude and texture) in the tectonically active Northwest Himalaya. The spatial distribution of the fractal parameters also suggested the secondary control of tectonic uplift and, to a much lesser extent, mean annual rainfall on the topographic geometry. These results collectively point to the role of complex actions of the governing factors in the landscape evolution process.

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Multifractal Topography: A Tool to Measure Tectonic Complexity in the Zagros Mountain Range

Cited by 10 publications

References 40 publications

Collapsing Complexity: Quantifying Multiscale Properties of Reef Topography

Collapsing Complexity: Quantifying Multiscale Properties of Reef Topography

Adaptive mechanism in Quercus brantii Lindl. leaves under climatic differentiation: morphological and anatomical traits

Process inference from topographic fractal characteristics in the tectonically active Northwest Himalaya, India

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