Skip to main content
Log in

The geological implications of steady-state mechanisms in catastrophe theory

  • Published:
Journal of the International Association for Mathematical Geology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

A brief introduction to catastrophe theory is presented, within the context of geological application, and a fundamental problem with a critical axiom of the theory noted. Implications for the application of this theory to modeling geological processes are noted and a solution to the problem proposed. The new approach is examined with reference to a model for sediment transport on the continental slope.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Broeker, T., and Lander, L., 1975, Differential germs and catastrophes: London Mathematical Society Lecture Note Series 17, Cambridge Univ. Press, 179 p.

  • Hawkins, D. M., and Merriam, D. F., 1974, Zonation of multivariate sequences of digitized geological data: Jour. Math. Geology, v. 6, no. 3, p. 263–269.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hawkins, D. M., and Merriam, D. F., 1975, Segmentation of discrete sequences of geologic data: Geol. Soc. America Mem. 142, p. 311–315.

    Google Scholar 

  • Henley, S., 1976, The identification of discontinuities from areally distributed data,in Quantitative techniques for the analysis of sediments: Pergamon Press, Oxford, p. 157–168.

    Google Scholar 

  • Isnard, C. A., and Zeeman, E. C., 1974, Some models from catastrophe theory in the social sciences,in Use of models in the social sciences: Tavistock Press, London, 238 p.

    Google Scholar 

  • Thom, R., 1969, Topological models in biology: Topology, v. 8, p. 313–335.

    Google Scholar 

  • Thom, R., 1972, Stabilité structurelle et morphogénèse: Benjamin, New York, 362 p.

    Google Scholar 

  • Thompson, J. M. T., 1975, Experiments in catastrophe: Nature, v. 254, no. 5499, p. 392–395.

    Google Scholar 

  • Thompson, J. M. T., and Hunt, G. W., 1973, A general theory of elastic stability. John Wiley & Sons, London, 322 p.

    Google Scholar 

  • Thompson, J. M. T., and Shorrock, P. A., 1975, Bifurcational instability of an atomic lattice: Jour. Mech. Phys. Solids, v. 23, no. 1, p. 21–37.

    Google Scholar 

  • Woodcock, A. E. R., and Poston, T., 1974, A geometric study of the elementary catastrophes: Lecture notes in mathematics, v. 373, Springer-Verlag, Berlin, 257 p.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zeeman, E. C., 1971, The geometry of catastrophe: Times Literary Supplement, Dec. 10, 1971, p. 1556–1557.

  • Zeeman, E. C., 1972, Differential equations for the heartbeat and nerve impulse,in Towards a theoretical biology, v. 4: Edinburgh Univ. Press, Edinburgh, p. 8–67.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zeeman, E. C., 1976, Catastrophe theory: Scientific American, v. 234, no. 4, p. 65–83.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Cubitt, J.M., Shaw, B. The geological implications of steady-state mechanisms in catastrophe theory. Mathematical Geology 8, 657–662 (1976). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01031096

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01031096

Key words

Navigation