Generation of a stochastic precipitation model for the tropical climate

Theoretical and Applied Climatology - A tropical country like Malaysia is characterized by intense localized precipitation with temperatures remaining relatively constant throughout the year. A...     

Zoogeography of marine Bryozoa around South Africa

The zoogeography of marine Bryozoa around South Africa was investigated using published distribution records, museum catalogues, and an examination of previously unworked bryozoan material in (mostly) museum collections. Although a total of 276 valid species are recognised, it was not possible to unambiguously assess geographic patterns of diversity. At all depth zones examined (shore and inner-shelf, 0–30 m; mid- and outer-shelf, 31–350 m; bathyal, >500 m), there was a clear geographic structure to communities that mirrored established regional patterns of biogeography. Too few samples were collected from the shelf edge (351–500 m) and they were consequently excluded from zoogeographic analysis. Communities on the shore and inner-shelf and on the mid- and outer-shelf were more similar to each other than they were to bathyal communities, and the pronounced structure in bathyal communities suggests heterogeneity in the deep sea around South Africa.     

Socio-economic geography in the U.S.S.R.

A major field of research since the 1920s has been methods and theories of economic regionalization. The territorial-production complex is now recognized as a key developmental tool within the framework of economic-planning regions. Recently, there has been a more marked growth of study into problems of natural-resource development, social progress and change in the U.S.S.R. as well as into the spatial structure of other nations, particularly other socialist countries and non-socialist developing countries.     

Territorial production complexes as integrated systems: Theory and practice

The ‘territorial production complex’ is an integrated territorial system that combines population with resources and economy within specific regions. This paper discusses the problems of theory and practice that have emerged from Soviet experience, with particular reference to the Siberian case.     

Programme-objective approach and mathematical models in research of development perspectives for Siberia

Economic geography has been enriched by modern scientific methods based on the ideas of systems analysis, optimisation, and economic-mathematical simulation. A system of models proposed by the Institute of Economics and Organisation of Industrial Production (IEOIP) of the Siberian Branch of the USSR Academy of Sciences has as its methodological basis the programme-objective approach. It is national economic criteria that are used for selection of optimum alternatives of interregional proportions, development of each region being appraised according to its contribution to development of national production. For each region, in accordance with the place occupied by it in the territorial division of labour, complex programmes are drawn up, situational analysis being used widely with different probabilities of particular events being taken into account. The system of models of the IEOIP reflects interactions of two hierarchic structures of the economy (production and territory), includes five subsystems (blocks), and covers three main echelons of national economic planning. Two blocks of spatial models are intended for optimisation of schemes of locating productive forces of the nation, particular regions, and parts thereof: territorial-production complexes (TPC), zones of complete assimilation and industrial centres. The optimisation problems of national economy spatial structure, of production and spatial structure of the economy of particular regions are solved in co-operation with national economic models, models of separate sectors and multi-sectoral complexes. The main tool for optimising spatial structure of the national economy and regions are various versions of the intersectoral interregional model and a group of models for optimising creation of TPCs. With the help of these models a series of practical problems has been solved at the IEOIP, the findings of which are a basis for some propositions relating to development of productive forces of the nation, of Siberia as a whole, of particular regions in 1975, 1990, and 2000.