6 ms·
It's funny because you can't measure borders due to the coastline paradox.
by lugao 1y ago
It's funny because you can't measure borders due to the coastline paradox.
- wolvesechoes 1y agoDoesn't matter in this context.
- jcattle 1y agoEh. If you care about relative measurements it doesn't matter much. Pick a sensible resolution, stick with it, you got yourself a ranking.
- heavenlyblue 1y agoIt also makes sense to pick a resolution because coastline changes on an hourly basis (and minute-basis, for rivers during rainfall), so that these differences would not massively affect the measurement every single second
- falcor84 1y agoI'm not aware of any 2 countries having their border be a natural coastline
- retsibsi 1y agoSame principle applies to rivers, though, and there are lots of river borders.
- falcor84 1y agoIt isn't the same principle. Firstly, coastlines are more jagged because they are hit by waves perpendicularly, while rivers are shaped by water flowing along the banks, smoothing them. Secondly, the borders are typically defined by either the thalweg (greatest depth) or median line, either being smoother lines than the banks. Thirdly, river borders are then in practice defined by measuring the coordinates of particular sample points along the idealized line and then using straight lines or simple mathematical curves to connect these, forming a simple non-fractal boundary.
- ndileas 1y agoYou could say the exact same set of objections to shoreline paradox.
- Jensson 1y agoBut most borders are not defined as "on the shoreline", they are defined using something reliable.
- ndileas 1y agoExactly. The coastline paradox is a mathematical curiousity, not a practical objection to measuring things. Coastlines are not infinite length in practice. You define a system of measurement then a length in that system
- falcor84 1y agoWhat? Neither of those three applies to a shoreline.
- ndileas 1y agoPhysical shorelines instantiations of a true fractal are always limited. I'd go so far as to say that there is no such real object in the world.
- falcor84 1y agoI think I'm in agreement with you, but not sure if I'm agreeing that the are no fractals in the world, or that there are no shorelines. Anyway, true fractal shorelines definitely never put sugar on their porridge.