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The Role of Spatial Scale in Geomorphic Systems
Author(s) -
Phillips Jonathan D.
Publication year - 1988
Publication title -
geographical analysis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.773
H-Index - 65
eISSN - 1538-4632
pISSN - 0016-7363
DOI - 10.1111/j.1538-4632.1988.tb00185.x
Subject(s) - scale (ratio) , spatial ecology , computer science , spatial variability , desert (philosophy) , geography , environmental resource management , statistics , environmental science , cartography , mathematics , ecology , philosophy , epistemology , biology
Geomorphic systems are characterized by numerous, complex interrelationships between system components, and by processes and controls which may operate over different spatial scales. Factors operating at any given spatial scale can be viewed as an abstracted subset of all relationships operating at all scales. The theory that relationships which operate over spatial scales an order of magnitude different are effectively independent of each other is formally stated in terms of abstracted systems. An example is given to illustrate the use of spatial statistics to determine what constitutes a significant spatial scale difference in controls over hydraulic geometry of a desert wash.