Environmental Modeling

This textbook presents the timeless basic physical and mathematical principles and philosophy of environmental modeling to students who need to be taught how to think in a different way than they would for more narrowly-defined engineering or physics problems. Examples come from a range of hydrologic, atmospheric, and geophysical problems.

The book has two aims: to introduce basic concepts of environmental modelling and to facilitate the application of the concepts using modern numerical tools such as MATLAB. It is targeted at all natural scientists dealing with the environment: process and chemical engineers, physicists, chemists, biologists, biochemists, hydrogeologists, geochemists and ecologists. MATLAB was chosen as the major computer tool for modeling, firstly because it is unique in it's capabilities, and secondly because it is available in most academic institutions, in all universities and in the research departments of many companies. In the 2nd edition many chapters will include updated and extended material. In addition the MATLAB command index will be updated and a new chapter on numerical methods will be added. For the second edition of 'Environmental Modeling' the first edition was completely revised. Text and figures were adapted to the recent MATLAB® version. Several chapters were extended. Correspondingly the index of MATLAB commands was extended considerably, which makes the book even more suitable to be used as a reference work by novices. Finally an introduction into numerical methods was added as a new chapter. “/p>

Simulation models are increasingly used to investigate processes and solve practical problems in a wide variety of disciplines eg. climatology, ecology, hydrology, geomorphology, engineering. Environmental Modelling: A Practical Approach addresses the development, testing and application of such models, which apply across traditional boundaries, and demonstrate how interactions across these boundaries can be beneficial. Provides a general overview of methods and approaches as well as focusing on key subject areas written by leading practitioners in the field Assesses the advantages and disadvantages of different models used and provides case studies supported with data, output, tutorial exercises and links to the model and/or model applications via the book's website Covers major developments in the field, eg. the use of GIS and remote sensing techniques, and scaling issues As associated website contains colour images, as well as links to www resources

A comprehensive, thoroughly modern approach to environmental quality assessment The only textbook to combine engineering transport fundamentals and equilibrium aquatic chemistry, Environmental Modeling brings a uniquely contemporary perspective to the assessment of environmental quality. Addressing key questions about fate, transport, and long-term effects of chemical pollutants in the environment, this inherently practical text gives readers the important tools they need to develop and solve their own mathematical models. Contains detailed examples from a wide range of crucial water quality areas-conventional pollutants in rivers, eutrophication of lakes, and toxic organic chemicals and heavy metals in both surface and groundwaters Examines current global issues, including atmospheric deposition, hazardous wastes, soil pollution, global change, and more Features over 200 high-quality illustrations, plus skill-building problems in every chapter Fresh in approach and broad in scope, Environmental Modeling is must reading for today's graduate and advanced undergraduate students in environmental sciences and engineering-a rich, invaluable, and superlative new resource.

This volume brings together, in a central text, chapters written by leading scholars working at the intersection of modeling, the natural and social sciences, and public participation. This book presents the current state of knowledge regarding the theory and practice of engaging stakeholders in environmental modeling for decision-making, and includes basic theoretical considerations, an overview of methods and tools available, and case study examples of these principles and methods in practice. Although there has been a significant increase in research and development regarding participatory modeling, a unifying text that provides an overview of the different methodologies available to scholars and a systematic review of case study applications has been largely unavailable. This edited volume seeks to address a gap in the literature and provide a primer that addresses the growing demand to adopt and apply a range of modeling methods that includes the public in environmental assessment and management. The book is divided into two main sections. The first part of the book covers basic considerations for including stakeholders in the modeling process and its intersection with the theory and practice of public participation in environmental decision-making. The second part of the book is devoted to specific applications and products of the various methods available through case study examination. This second part of the book also provides insight from several international experts currently working in the field about their approaches, types of interactions with stakeholders, models produced, and the challenges they perceived based on their practical experiences.

Increasingly used to represent climatic, biogeochemical, and ecological systems, computer modeling has become an important tool that should be in every environmental professional’s toolbox. Environmental Modeling: A Practical Introduction is just what it purports to be, a practical introduction to the various methods, techniques, and skills required for computerized environmental modeling. Exploring the broad arena of environmental modeling, the book demonstrates how to represent an environmental problem in conceptual terms, formalize the conceptual model using mathematical expressions, convert the mathematical model into a program that can be run on a desktop or laptop computer, and examine the results produced by the computational model. Equally important, the book imparts skills that allow you to develop, implement, and experiment with a range of computerized environmental models. The emphasis is on active engagement in the modeling process rather than on passive learning about a suite of well-established models. The author takes a practical approach throughout, one that does not get bogged down in the details of the underlying mathematics and that encourages learning through “hands on” experimentation. He provides a set of software tools and data sets that you can use to work through the various examples and exercises presented in each chapter, as well as presentational material and handouts for course tutors. Comprehensive and up-to-date, the book discusses how computational models can be used to represent environmental systems and illustrates how such models improve understanding of the ways in which environmental systems function.

Uncertainty in the predictions of science when applied to the environment is an issue of great current relevance in relation to the impacts of climate change, protecting against natural and man-made disasters, pollutant transport and sustainable resource management. However, it is often ignored both by scientists and decision makers, or interpreted as a conflict or disagreement between scientists. This is not necessarily the case, the scientists might well agree, but their predictions would still be uncertain and knowledge of that uncertainty might be important in decision making. Environmental Modelling: An Uncertain Future? introduces students, scientists and decision makers to: the different concepts and techniques of uncertainty estimation in environmental prediction the philosophical background to different concepts of uncertainty the constraint of uncertainties by the collection of observations and data assimilation in real-time forecasting techniques for decision making under uncertainty. This book will be relevant to environmental modellers, practitioners and decision makers in hydrology, hydraulics, ecology, meteorology and oceanography, geomorphology, geochemistry, soil science, pollutant transport and climate change. A companion website for the book can be found at www.uncertain-future.org.uk

In this book the authors consider the natural environment as an integrated system. The physical, chemical and biological processes that govern the behaviour of the environmental system can thus be understood through mathematical modelling, and their evolution can be studied by means of numerical simulation. The book contains a summary of various efficient approaches in atmospheric prediction, such as numerical weather prediction and statistical forecast of climate change, as well as other successful methods in land surface modelling. The authors explore new theories and methods in environment prediction such as systems analysis and information theory. Attention is given to new achievements in remote sensing tele-metering and geographic information systems.