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MATH0011 MATH0011: Fractals in Biology and Geology Gy Gy

This document summarizes a lecture on modeling shapes in nature using fractals. It discusses how fractal geometry can be used to describe inherently irregular forms found in nature, such as coastlines, trees, clouds, and geological structures. Fractals are characterized by self-similarity and fractional dimensions. Specific examples covered include the Koch curve and its non-integer fractal dimension. Methods for measuring the fractal dimension of objects, such as the box-counting method, are also presented. A wide range of applications of fractal analysis in fields like earth sciences, medicine, and biology are described.

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25 views9 pages

MATH0011 MATH0011: Fractals in Biology and Geology Gy Gy

This document summarizes a lecture on modeling shapes in nature using fractals. It discusses how fractal geometry can be used to describe inherently irregular forms found in nature, such as coastlines, trees, clouds, and geological structures. Fractals are characterized by self-similarity and fractional dimensions. Specific examples covered include the Koch curve and its non-integer fractal dimension. Methods for measuring the fractal dimension of objects, such as the box-counting method, are also presented. A wide range of applications of fractal analysis in fields like earth sciences, medicine, and biology are described.

Uploaded by

julianli0220
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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MATH0011 Lecture 2

2007/02/07

How to model shapes of objects in nature ?

MATH0011
Numbers and Patterns in Nature and Life
Lecture 2

Fractals in Biology
gy and Geology
gy
The Earth

Salt crystal

http://147.8.101.93/MATH0011/
1

Model shapes of objects in nature

Paul Cezane
French Painter
1839-1906

But how to describe

Treat
Treat nature by the
cylinder, the sphere,
the cone, everything
in proper perspective
so that each side of
an object or a plane is
directed towards a
central point.

clouds

coastlines

meanders and rivers


3

MATH0011 Lecture 2

2007/02/07

Length of coastline

And how to describe

branching of trees

airways in lungs

1961: L.F. Richardson considered


the problem of measuring length
of coastline of England.
Findings: using shorter straight lines for
measuring along coastline results in longer
total length.
Reason: smaller line segments include
smaller bays and peninsulas, adding to total
length.

surface of proteins
4

Length of coastline

Length of coastline

finer resolution gives finer features

MATH0011 Lecture 2

2007/02/07

Length of coastline

Length of coastline

Southern Africa
Australia

England
8

Measuring circumference

Measuring circumference

10

11

MATH0011 Lecture 2

2007/02/07

Measuring circumference

Characteristics of fractal objects

Scaling: finer resolution gives more details


Self-similarity: part is similar to the whole

Total length is reduced sharply when ruler is too long


12

13

Example of fractals : Koch curve


Non-fractal objects

length = 1

finer resolution does not give more details


part is not similar to the whole
p

length = 4/3

length = (4/3)

length = (4/3)

length = (4/3)

14

Helge von Koch


(1870-1924)

Length of Koch curve is infinity !


15

MATH0011 Lecture 2

2007/02/07

Dimension of objects

General dimension formula

Let M(r) be mass of object with linear size r.


Let d denote dimension of the object.
r

M(r) : mass of object with linear size r


d : dimension of object
a : any linear scaling factor

r
r/2

r/2

M(a
( r)) = a M(r)
()

r/2

M(r/2) = (1/2) M(r)

M(r/2) = (1/4) M(r)

M(r/2) = (1/8) M(r)

d=1

d=2

d=3
16

17

Dimension of objects (alternative version)

Alternative general dimension formula


Power law

Let N(r) be number of boxes with linear size


r that are needed to cover the object.
Let
e d de
denote
oed
dimension
e so o
of the
e objec
object.

r
r

N(r) 1/r
d=1

N(r) (1/r)2
d=2

N(r) : number of boxes with linear size r that


are needed to cover the object
d : dimension of object

N(r)
( ) r-dd

N(r) (1/r) 3
d=3
18

19

MATH0011 Lecture 2

2007/02/07

Dimension of Koch curve

r
d

4 M(r) = M(3 r) = 3 M(r)

4 = 3 log 4 = d log 3

d = log 4 / log 3 = 1.2619

Dimension of Koch curve is not an integer !


It is a fractal dimension.
B.B. Mandelbrot, the pioneer in
fractals research, coined the
word fractals to indicate:
(i) these objects have fractional
dimensions and
(ii) they are fragmented into ever
finer pieces.

20

21

More examples of deterministic fractals

More examples of deterministic fractals

Sierpinski gasket

Cantor set

3 M(r) = M(2 r) = 2 M(r)

2 M(r) = M(3 r) = 3 M(r)

3 = 2d log 3 = d log 2

2 = 3d log 2 = d log 3

d = log 3 / log 2 = 1.585

d = log 2 / log 3 = 0.631


22

23

MATH0011 Lecture 2

2007/02/07

Example of random fractals

Randomized Koch snowflake

Randomized Koch snowflake

n=0

starting figure

n=1

n=2

generator
n=3

n=4

24

25

Revisit: Dimension of coastline

Fractal systems in nature

They are seldom deterministic, and should be


modeled byy random fractals.

fern

r : length of straight lines used


f measuring
for
i
L(r) : total coastline length
N(r) : number of line segments
covering whole coastline

L(r) r-0.25

L(r) = N(r) r

N(r) r-d

d = 1.25

bacterial colony
26

27

MATH0011 Lecture 2

2007/02/07

Measure dimension of non-deterministic fractals

Box counting method (cont.)

Box counting method

N(r) : number of boxes


with linear size r that
are needed to cover the
object
d : dimension of object

log N(r)

N(r) r-d

N(r) : number of boxes


with linear size r that
are needed to cover the
object
d : dimension of object

d=log r

log N(r)
log r

28

29

Application: shape of clouds

rain area

cloud perimeter

Application: earth sciences

1982 Lovejoy: studied clouds


with perimeter P from 1km to
10 000km and rain area A.
10,000km
A
Findings:
P Ad /2 with d = 1.350.05
1984 Hentschel & Procaccia:
explained fractal nature of
clouds by turbulent diffusion
theory.
theory
1986 Henderson-Sellers:
confirmed that clouds of planet
Mars are fractals, with d=1.60
30

Study of rivers: relation between channel


width and channel depth
W H d with 1 < d < 2.

Study meanders.

Study drainage networks.

Study of earthquakes: fractal structure of


fractures in space, time, and magnitude.
31

MATH0011 Lecture 2

2007/02/07

Examples of self-similarity in life

Application: medical

1994 Boxt et.al.: laboratory rats that breathe in less


oxygen or more oxygen than is found in normal air
ha e high blood press
have
pressure
re in llung
ng blood vessels.
essels
Findings: fractal dimensions of lung blood vessels are
different in these rats.

Branching patterns of dendrites of neurons


Arteries and veins in retina
Airways of lungs.

Causes for self-similarity


Branching process
Iteration process

normal 20% O2
d = 1.65

hypoxic 10% O2
d = 1.53

hyperoxic 90% O2
d=1.43

32

33

Applications: medical and life sciences


References

protein surfaces
cell membrane surfaces
growth of bacterial colonies
branching patterns of lipid
dendrites of neurons
blood vessels in eye, heart, lung
blood flow in heart
textures of bone and teeth X-ray images
opening/closing of ion channels (temporal data)
...

Fractal Models in Earth Sciences, G. Korvin,


Elsevier, 1994.

34

Fractals and Chaos Simplified for the Life


Sciences, L.S. Liebovitch, Oxford University Press,
1998.
Fractals, A Users Guide for the Natural Sciences,
H.M. Hastings and G. Sugihara, Oxford Science
Publications, 1993.
Fractals in Science, A. Bunde and S. Havlin,
Springer-Verlag, 1994.
35

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