Fractal dimension of space-time chaos

A class of simplified measures is constructed to capture the key features o f generic spatiotemporally chaotic systems. A combined analytical and numer ical investigation allows us to establish the scaling behavior of the fract al dimension in open systems. Our results improve a previous conjecture and , what is more important, furnish a clear framework for both numerical and analytical checks of the underlying assumptions. [S0031-9007(99)08908-5].