Support for the Symposium on Geomorphic Systems; Oxford, Ohio; September 1992.

近几十年来，包括混沌理论和耗散结构理论在内的非线性动力系统理论给物理学、物理化学和流体力学带来了革命性的进步。非线性动力系统理论具有广泛的适用性，适合于研究湍流等地球表面过程。例如，与全球环境变化有关的问题日益复杂，地貌及相关现象的相互关联性要求对这些问题的研究采取更注重系统的方法。关于地貌系统的两大学派分别出现在北美和欧洲。北美人强调更现代的过程，而欧洲人则关注更长期的景观演变。这种性质的辩论通常在重要的国际会议上进行。一年一度的宾厄姆顿地貌学研讨会是地貌学学者的最重要的聚会，1992年的研讨会将围绕地貌系统的主题组织。该项目允许五位与欧洲地貌系统观点有关的著名地貌学家参加宾厄姆顿专题讨论会。他们的出席及其提交的论文将为协调审查动力系统理论在研究地表过程中的作用提供基础，最终目的是更好地了解地球表面的物理地貌变化。二十多年来，宾厄姆顿地貌学研讨会一直引领着地貌学研究的前沿。地貌系统主题为探索非线性动力系统理论在地球表面过程和地貌研究中的应用提供了机会。它还应审查地貌系统研究的潜力，以预测地球表面系统对气候和海平面变化等大范围扰动的反应。五位欧洲专家的参与将促进地貌系统的研究，将来自不同传统的地貌学家聚集在一起，讨论并相互通报产生地球上各种地貌的动态过程。研讨会将探讨混沌和分叉理论、耗散结构和层次理论在研究特定地貌系统的行为和演化方面的应用。它将进一步探索时空尺度和尺度-联系问题在地貌学中的作用。这个项目提供了一个独特的机会，让学者们在既定的、杰出的研讨会形式下聚集在一起，讨论和辩论地理学中一个重要分支学科的未来方向。

In recent decades, nonlinear dynamical systems theory, which includes such approaches and techniques as chaos theory and the theory of dissipative structures, has brought revolutionary advancements to physics, physical chemistry and fluid dynamics. The broad applicability of nonlinear dynamical systems theory makes it appropriate for the study of earth surface processes such as turbulent flow. The increasingly complex nature of problems related to, for example, global environmental change and the interconnectedness of geomorphic and related phenomena demand a more systems oriented approach to their study. Two major schools of thought on geomorphic systems are lodged in North America and Europe, respectively. While North Americans emphasize more contemporary processes, Europeans focus on longer term landscape evolution. Debates of this nature usually take place at major international conferences. The annual Binghamton Geomorphology Symposium is the foremost gathering of scholars in Geomorphology, and in 1992 the Symposium will be organized around the theme of geomorphic systems. This project allows five eminent geomorphologists associated with the European perspective on geomorphic systems to participate in the Binghamton Symposium. Their presence and their contributed papers will provide the basis for a coordinated examination of the role of dynamical systems theory in the study of surficial processes with the ultimate objective of achieving a better understanding of physical landscape change on the surface of the earth. The Binghamton Geomorphology Symposium has, for over two decades, led the way in advancing the research frontier of geomorphological studies. The geomorphic systems theme provides an opportunity to explore the utility of nonlinear dynamical systems theory for the study of earth surface processes and landforms. It should also examine the potential of geomorphic systems studies for predicting the response of earth surface systems to large-scale perturbations such as climate and sea- level change. The participation of the five European experts will fertilize research in geomorphic systems by bringing together geomorphologists from different traditions to discuss and inform each other about the dynamic processes which produce the variety of landscapes present on the earth. The symposium will investigate the utility of chaos and bifurcation theory, dissipative structures, and hierarchy theory for research on the behavior and evolution of specific geomorphic systems. It will further explore the roles of spatial and temporal scale and scale-linkage problems in geomorphology. This project provides a unique opportunity to bring together scholars under the auspices of an established, distinguished symposium format to discuss and debate the future direction of an important subdiscipline within geography.