∂̄-equations, integrable deformations of quasiconformal mappings and Whitham hierarchy

Abstract It is shown that the dispersionless scalar integrable hierarchies and, in general, the universal Whitham hierarchy are nothing but classes of integrable deformations of quasiconformal mappings on the plane. Examples of deformations of quasiconformal mappings associated with explicit solutions of the dispersionless KP hierarchy are presented.