Although scientists have effectively employed the concepts of probability to address the complex problem of prediction, modern science still falls short in establishing true predictions with meaningful lead times of zero-probability major disasters. The recent earthquakes in Haiti, Chile, and China are tragic reminders of the critical need for improved methods of predicting natural disasters. Drawing on their vast practical experience and theoretical studies, Dr. Yi Lin and Professor Shoucheng OuYang examine some of the problems that exist in the modern system of science to provide the understanding required to improve our ability to forecast and prepare for such events.

Presenting a series of new understandings, theories, and a new system of methodology, Irregularities and Prediction of Major Disasters simplifies the world-class problem of prediction into a series of tasks that can be learned, mastered, and applied in the analysis and prediction of forthcoming changes in materials or fluids. These internationally respected authors introduce their novel method of digitization for dealing with irregular information, proven effective for predicting transitional changes in events. They also:

• Unveil a new methodology for forecasting zero-probability natural disasters
• Highlight the reasons for common forecasting failures
• Propose a method for resolving the mystery of nonlinearity
• Include numerous real-life case studies that illustrate how to properly digitize available information
• Supply proven methods for forecasting small-probability natural disasters

This authoritative resource provides a systematic discussion of the non-evolutionality of the modern system of science¿analyzing its capabilities and limitations. By touching on the need for change in some of the fundamentals in basic scientific theories and relevant methodologies, this book provides the scientific community with the understanding and methodology required to forecast zero-probability major disasters with greatly improved accuracy.

Introduction
Analyzing Materials and Events, Analyzing Quantities, and the System of Science
What Quantities Are and Where They Are From
Rotational Movements
What Time Is
Irregular Information and Digital Structuralization

Embryonic Deficits of Quantitative Analysis Systems
Concepts on the Concept of Determinacy
Randomness and Quantitative Comparability
Equations of Dynamics and Complexity

Attributes and Problems of Numbers and Their Morphological Transformations
Incompleteness of Quantities
Folding and Sharp Turning in Mathematical Models
Blown-Ups of Quadratic Nonlinear Models and Dynamic Spatial Transformations
The Dynamic Implicit Transformation of the Riemann Ball
Whole Evolution of Bifurcation Mathematical Models and Nonlinear Elasticity Models
Eight Theorems on Mathematical Properties of Nonlinearity

Achievements and Problems of the Dynamic System of Wave Motions
The Classical Vibration and Wave Motion System
Mathematical Waves and Related Problems
Linearization or Weak-Linearization of Nonlinear Equations
Nondimensionalization of the Two-Dimensional
The Problem of Integrability of the KdV and Burgers Equations

The Circulation Theorem and Generalization of the Mystery of Nonlinearity
Bjerknes¿s Circulation Theorem
Generalized Meaning of Nonlinearity
Mystery of Nonlinearity
Einstein¿s General Relativity Theory and the Problem of Gravitational Waves
Probabilistic Waves of the Schrodinger Equation and Transmutation of High-Speed Flows
Numerical Experiments on Probabilistic Waves and Torsion of Quantum Effects

Nonlinear Computations and Experiments
Mathematical Properties and Numerical Computability of Nonlinearity
Computational Stability Analysis of Nonconservative and Conservative Schemes of Nonlinear Fluid Equations
The Form of Computational Stability of the Conservative Scheme
Principal Problems in the Quantitative Computations of Harmonic Wave Analysis of Spectral Expansions
Lorenz¿s Chaos Doctrine and Related Computational Schemes

Evolution Science
Specifics of the Concept of Noninertial Systems
What Is Time?
Stirring Motion and Stirring Energy
Physical Quantities, Parametric Dimension, and Variable Events

Irregular Information and Regional Digitization
Digitization of Region-Specific Information and Prediction of Disastrous Weathers
The Digital Design and Functions of the V-3¿ Graphs
Structural Characteristics of Major Disastrous Weathers
The Problem of Mid- and Long-Term Forecasts
Examples of Case Studies

Digital Transformation of Automatically Recorded Information
Some Briefings
Digitization of Automatically Recorded Information of Disastrous Weathers
Examples of Digitizing Seismological Oscillating Information and Prediction of Earthquakes

Afterword
References
Index

"In this book, we will not only reveal the calls of the problems existing in the system of modern science, but we will also provide the methodology and technology for resolving the practical challenge of predicting the unknown future. It is our hope that the publication of this book will reach a greater audience of the scientific community, and that the methodology of forecasting zero-probability natural disasters, as introduced in this book, can be further applied and perfected." ¿from the Preface

Yi Lin, Ph.D. holds all his educational degrees in pure mathematics and had a 1-year postdoctoral experience in statistics at Carnegie Mellon University. Currently, he is a guest professor of several major universities in China, including the College of Economics and Management at Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics; a professor of mathematics at Slippery Rock University, Pennsylvania; and the president of the International Institute for General Systems Studies, Inc., Pennsylvania.

Dr. Lin serves on the editorial boards of professional journals, including Kybernetes: The International Journal of Systems and Cybernetics, the Journal of Systems Science and Complexity, the International Journal of General Systems, and others. Dr. Lin¿s research has been funded by the United Nations, the State of Pennsylvania, the National Science Foundation of China, and the German National Research Center for Information Architecture and Software Technology. He has published well over 200 research papers and 18 books and special topic volumes. Over the years, Dr. Lin¿s scientific achievements have been recognized by various professional organizations and academic publishers. In 2001, he was inducted into the Honorary Fellowship of the World Organization of Systems and Cybernetics. His research interests include mathematical and general systems theory and applications, foundations of mathematics, data analysis, predictions, economics, finance, management science, and philosophy of science.

Shoucheng OuYang, Ph.D. pursued his higher education in the department of Meteorology of Nanjing University. Currently, he is a full professor at Chengdu University of Information Technology, a member of the Chinese Association of Geophysics, the International Institute of General Systems, Inc. (United States), and an invited editor of Emerald Journals (United Kingdom), and serves on the editorial or advisory boards of several journals, including Applied Geophysics and Scientific Inquiry.

Through practice, he established the theory of blown-ups and the method of digitization. Due to its real-life applicability, Professor OuYang¿s research of the theory and method were funded at various times by many local and national funding agencies and have been employed by some commercial weather forecasting services. He has made over 10 technological innovations, and introduced the theories of second stir and stirring energy. With invitations and relevant funding, Professor OuYang has traveled to Europe, Canada, and the United States to make conference presentations and deliver speeches. As of this writing, he has published more than 10 books. He has published over 100 research articles with more than 40 of these papers being collected by such databases as the Science Citation Index (SCI) and Engineering Index (EI) since 1998. Professor OuYang is currently working on various general problems using the concepts of uneven heat and information of changes.