sensitivity to initial conditions

mathematics and mechanics
Also known as: sensitive dependence on initial conditions

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contribution of Lorenz

  • In Edward Lorenz

    …a nonlinear phenomenon known as sensitive dependence on initial conditions (see chaos theory). He constructed a weather model showing that almost any two nearby starting points, indicating the current weather, will quickly diverge trajectories and will quite frequently end up in different “lobes,” which correspond to calm or stormy weather.…

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