A Fractal Description of Fluvial Networks in Chile: a Geography not as Crazy as Thought

Chilean geography is highly variable, not only from a climatic and hydrological point of view, but also a morphological one, showing unpredictable natural patterns with marked contrasts throughout the country, for which sometimes it is considered as a "crazy" geography. In this paper we have investigated this apparent disorganized character by exploring the fractal properties of fluvial networks extracted from basins distributed across the continental territory. Analytical and semi-empirical methods were applied, finding striking patterns of organization in the distributions of Horton parameters and the fractal dimension of the drainage networks. Fractal dimension reveals to be quite dependent on the drainage area of each unit, showing clear groupings by tectonic and climatological factors. Such dimension reveals to be an important geomorphic parameter, if not the only one able to capture the real morphology of a fluvial network. From our results and despite the diversity of landforms, hydrological, climatic and tectonic conditions, Chilean’s geography is perhaps not as crazy and disorganized as believed.

Quantitative Study on Empirical Strength Parameters of Extremely Fractured Phyllite Based on Fractal Theory

Extremely broken phyllite is widely distributed and is easily seen in engineering construction. Aiming at the problem that the empirical strength parameters of extremely broken surrounding rock have intense subjectivity and significant difference, based on the characteristics of the existence of particle group state in the highly broken surrounding rock, the fractal theory and large-scale direct shear test are used, the fractal description of polar broken phyllite samples with different pile numbers in fault fracture zone of Qinyu Tunnel is carried out, and the fractal dimensions and empirical strength parameters of each sample are determined. Based on a fractal description and large shear test, the functional relationship between fractal dimension and empirical strength parameter of extremely broken phyllite in fault fracture zone is established, and the quantitative value method of empirical strength parameter determined by fractal dimension of extremely broken phyllite is given, which provides ideas for the quantitative value of empirical strength parameter of the similar extremely broken surrounding rock.

Political Narratives on Crimea in German Language Media

Political narratives on Crimea in German Language Media have been subjected to discourse analysis using the method of fractal description developed by the author. The analysis of 720 headlines in five leading media of Germany, Switzerland and Austria (2014 and 2019) has revealed that Crimea-related reporting was inconsistent and showed remarkably little substance in the facts. A long list of important questions in connection with the 2014 events have not been even asked by German-language media. A classification of the events in Crimea into large subject areas of contemporary historical, political and geostrategic nature is still almost completely lacking.