Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
2
4 a 1 P 1
1
I
V
III
a 2
4 P 1
1
a 1
1.5
p B
p B
p B
B
B
B
a 2
1
II
0.5
p B
p B
B
IV
B
0.2
0.4
0.6
0.8
1
P 1
Figure 4.1. Shapes of the probability distributions of biomass B as functions of the
parameters P 1 and a 2 of the state-independent dichotomous process (calculated for
a 1 =
2). A variety of dynamics can be obtained, includings L-shaped distributions
with preferential state at B
0
.
=
0 (case I), J-shaped distributions with preferential state
at B
1 (case II), bistable dynamics with bimodal (U-shaped) distribution (case III),
dynamics with only one stable state located between the extremes of the domain of
B (case IV), bimodal distributions with a preferential state at B
=
=
0 and the other for
B
<
1 (case V).
a 1 (Fig. 4.1 , case II). When both conditions are met, p ( B )is
U-shaped with two spikes of probability at B
B
=
1) for P 1
>
1
=
=
1(Fig. 4.1 , case III).
When none of these conditions is met, the probability distribution of B has only one
mode within the interval [0, 1] and no spikes of probability at B =
0and B
0orat B =
1
(Fig. 4.1 , case IV). It can be shown that when p ( B ) has a singularity at B =
0(but
not at B
a 1 )], p ( B ) has both a mode and an
antimode in [0, 1], as in Fig. 4.1 (case V). This mode and the spikes of p ( B ) in cases
I, II, and III are preferential (i.e., more probable) states of the system, and we interpret
them as statistically stable states of the dynamics.
Because the probability distribution of B exhibits different shapes depending on
the values of the parameters a 1 , a 2 ,and P 1 (Fig. 4.1 ), the preferential states of B vary
across the parameter space. For relatively low (high) rates of decay a 2 and high (low)
probability P 1 of occurrence of unstressed conditions, the dynamics have a preferential
state (i.e., spike of probability) in B
=
1) and a 2 <
(4 a 1 P 1
1)
/
[4( P 1
1
0). In intermediate conditions the
system may exhibit either one (case IV) or two (case III and V) statistically stable
states. This bistability [i.e., bimodality in p ( B )] emerges as a noise-induced effect
(see Chapter 3) and is an example of the ability of noise to induce new states, which
do not exist in the underlying deterministic system ( Horsthemke and Lefever , 1984 ).
=
1( B
=
 
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