Abstract
R/S analysis of the oxygen isotope curve of Pacific core V28-239 yields a fractal dimension of 1.22. This value is considered to characterize global climatic change over the last 2 million years as expressed by changing δO18 ratios and confirms that climatic variations are characterized by long-term persistence. The fractal dimension of 1.22 compares favorably with the approximate fractal dimension of 1.26 for annual precipitation records for nine major cities in the United States. Although the precipitation and oxygen isotope data are measured in different physical units and recorded at different time scales, fractal analysis allows for a mathematical comparison of the two phenomena. Additionally, since the fractal dimensions of the oxygen isotope and precipitation records are similar, it is implied that such fractal dimensions are characteristic of climate change over the spectral range of 10 to 106 years. Given this temperature curves based on fractal parameters of long-term δO18 data could be constructed which would allow examination of characteristics of temperature variation over tens and hundreds of years. Such studies may allow the establishment of limits on natural temperature variation and document the persistence of temperature trends through time. If these trends and limits can be resolved, long-range climatic prediction is feasible.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Ahrens, C. D.,Meteorology Today (West Publishing, St. Paul 1985).
Berggren, W. A., Kent, D. V., Flynn, J. J., andVan Couvering, J. A., (1985),Cenozoic Geochronology, Geol. Soc. America Bull.96, 1407–1418.
Chappell, J. (1973),Astronomical Theory of Climatic Change: Status and Problem, Quaternary Research3, 221–236.
Emiliani, C. (1955),Pleistocene Temperatures, J. Geology63, 538–578.
Harland, W. B., Cox, A. V., Llewellyn, P. G., Pickton, C. A. G., Smith, A. G., andWalters, R. A Geologic Time Scale (Cambridge University Press 1982).
La Brecque, M. (1986),Fractal Applications, National Science Foundation Mosaic17, (4), 34–48.
Lovejoy, S. (1982),Area-Perimeter Relation for Rain and Cloud Areas, Science216, 185–187.
Mandelbrot B. B., andWallis, J. R. (1969a),Some Long-run Properties of Geophysical Records, Water Resources Res.5, 321–340.
Mandelbrot, B. B., andWallis, J. R. (1969b),Robustness of the Rescaled Range R/S in the Measurement of Noncyclic Long-run Statistical Dependence, Water Resources Res.5, 967–988.
Mandelbrot, B. B.,The Fractal Geometry of Nature (Freeman and Co., New York 1983).
Ruddiman, W. F., andGlover, L. K. (1972),Vertical Mixing of Ice-rafted Volcanic Ash in North Atlantic Sediments, Geol. Soc. America Bull.83, 2817–2836.
Shackleton, N. J., andOpdyke, N. D. (1973)Oxygen Isotope and Paleomagnetic Stratigraphy of Equatorial Pacific Core V28-238: Oxygen Isotope Temperatures and Ice Volumes on a 105 Year and 106 Year Scale. Quaternary Research,3, 39–55.
Shackleton, N. J., andOpdyke, N. D. (1976)Oxygen isotope and paleomagnetic stratigraphy of Pacific Core V28-239 late Pliocene to latest Pleistocene InInvestigation of Late Quaternary Paleoceanography and Paleoclimatology (eds. Cline, R. M., and Hays, J. D.) Geol. Soc. America Memoir145, 449–464.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Fluegeman, R.H., Scott Snow, R. Fractal analysis of long-range paleoclimatic data: Oxygen isotope record of pacific core V28-239. PAGEOPH 131, 307–313 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00874493
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00874493