Mathematical Models of Sedimentary Processes

Book excerpt: This volume reports the results of a symposium held in Heidelberg during the International Sedimentological Congress in late August and early September, 1971. The symposium, co sponsored by the International Association for Mathematical Geology, entertained the subject, "Mathematical Models of Sedimentary Processes. " The subject is most appropriate because sedimentologists have long been concerned with processes and mechanisms of sedi ment dispersal. Much effort has gone into building physical models such as flumes, stream tables, wave tanks, wind tunnels, etc. , to help understand sedimentological processes. Quantita tive methods (especially statistics) have been utilized in summarizing these data. It is timely then with the recent developments of simulation and application of computer tech niques that a symposium be addressed to the use of "Mathematical Models of Sedimentary Processes" involving some of these new statistically oriented methods and available data bases. Experimentation in geology has been hampered by a scale factor. That is, it is difficult to find suitab. 1e materials for physical models; it is difficult to find a mechanical de vice which properly represents the forces involved; it is almost impossible to allow adequately for geologic time. Sta tistically valid models are difficult to obtain with physical models because of material replicate problems. Most problems including the time factor, however, can be eliminated with mathematical models. Mathematical models can be infinitely varied in any number of combinations easily and quickly with the computer.