Science of Disasters

From the reviews: "This impressive collection is a result of an international conference on 'Facets of Universality in Complex Systems', which was held in June 1999 at the University of Giessen, Germany. ... What is found in and through this book are ... 14 sophisticated examples of advanced modelling of non-linear processes, systems and systemic interdependencies. ... My personal recommendation: A stimulating book ... ." (Wolf Dombrowsky, Journal of Contingencies and Crisis Management, Vol. 12 (4), 2006) "The book considers the non-linear dynamics of complex systems, with examples drawn from climatology, biodynamics and economics. ... I would like to congratulate the editors and the publisher. Publishing a book covering state-of-the-art analysis in three disciplines cannot be easy. This is a beautifully presented work ... . The diagrams are of a consistently high standard with liberal use of colour, and always enhance the discussion. ... In short, this is a very good book, bursting with ideas ... ." (Tom Holt, The Holocene, Vol. 14 (2), 2004) "This monograph grew from a 1999 Giessen workshop entitled 'Facets of Universality in Climate, Biodynamics and Stock Markets'. It is interdisciplinary by intent. ... The book delivers an invitation to explore new tools and an introduction to the application fields mentioned above which I found stimulating, with its breadth of coverage and wealth of references." (Greg Doherty, The Physicist, Vol. 41 (1), 2003)

• I. General.- 1. Entropy, Complexity, Predictability, and Data Analysis of Time Series and Letter Sequences.- 2. Wavelet Based Multifractal Formalism: Applications to DNA Sequences, Satellite Images of the Cloud Structure, and Stock Market Data.- II. Climate Systems.- 3. Space-Time Variability of the European Climate.- 4. Is Climate Predictable?.- 5. Atmospheric Persistence Analysis: Novel Approaches and Applications.- 6. Assessment and Management of Critical Events: The Breakdown of Marine Fisheries and The North Atlantic Thermohaline Circulation.- III. Biodynamics.- 7. Fractal and Multifractal Approaches in Physiology.- 8. Physiological Relevance of Scaling of Heart Phenomena.- 9. Local Scaling Properties for Diagnostic Purposes.- 10. Unstable Periodic Orbits and Stochastic Synchronization in Sensory Biology.- 11. Crowd Disasters and Simulation of Panic Situations.- IV. Nonlinear Economics.- 12. Investigations of Financial Markets Using Statistical Physics Methods.- 13. Market Fluctuations I: Scaling, Multiscaling, and Their Possible Origins.- 14. Market Fluctuations II: Multiplicative and Percolation Models, Size Effects, and Predictions.