Study on fractal characteristics of inundated area of flood disaster in China from 1950 to 1997

Based on fractal theory, time sequence of inundated area of cropland due to flood disaster from 1950 to 1997 are studied. The results indicate that flood disaster systems have fractal characteristics, average time - scale of forecasting inundated area of cropland is 8-9 year. According to R/S analysis, the forecasted results for time periods during 1950-1997 are quite consistent with actual changing trend of inundatod area. It shows that the above mentioned method is an effective way of fractal research into flood and waterlogging disaster system.