Deterministic KPZ model for stromatolite laminae

The deterministic variant of the Kardar-Parisi-Zhang equation for the evolu tion of a growing interface is used to model patterning produced by success ive laminations in certain stromatolites. Algebraic solutions of the model together with numerical simulations are employed to fit model parameters co nsistent with digital recordings of individual stromatolite laminae. Numeri cal values for model parameters, related to lateral growth, vertical growth and surface diffusion, provide a set of indices which may prove useful for classifying different stromatolites. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All ri ghts reserved.