Use And Abuse Of Statistical Methods In The Earth Sciences

A major goal of earth scientists is to make geological interpretations based on statistical inferences, but accomplishing this is difficult due to the "abuse" of statistical methods. This book, the first in the International Association for Mathematical Geology Series, addresses the underlying assumptions of randomness, normality, and variance of sample data used with statistical methods. The authors uncover the reasons for unreliable or invalid statistical results and discuss the use of statistical measures of association, correlation, and regressions with relatively uncontrolled and variable natural data. Their analyses help to bridge the gap between geostatisticians and earth science researchers, and will be valuable to a wide range of earth scientists.

Explore the classic and cutting-edge quantitative methods for understanding environmental science research Based on the multifaceted 16-volume Encyclopedia of Statistical Sciences, Second Edition, Methods and Applications of Statistics in the Atmospheric and Earth Sciences offers guidance on the application of statistical methods for conducting research in these fields of study. With contributions from more than 100 leading experts in academia and industry, this volume combines key articles from the Encyclopedia with newly developed topics addressing some of the more critical issues, including pollution, droughts, and volcanic activity. Readers will gain a thorough understanding of cutting-edge methods for the acquisition and analysis of data across a wide range of subject areas, from geophysics, geology, and biogeography to meteorology, forestry, agriculture, animal science, and ornithology. The book features new and updated content on quantitative methods and their use in understanding the latest topics in social research, including: Drought Analysis and Forecasting Childhood Obesity Ranked Set Sampling Methodology for Environmental Data Species Richness and Shared Species Richness Geographic Information Systems Each contribution offers authoritative yet easily accessible coverage of statistical concepts. With updated references and discussion of emerging topics, readers are provided with the various statistical methods, techniques, strategies, and applications that are essential for tackling critical issues in environmental science research. Featuring a balance of classical and cutting-edge methodologies, Methods and Applications of Statistics in the Atmospheric and Earth Sciences is an excellent resource for researchers, professionals, and students in the fields of sociology, psychology, philosophy, education, political science, and the related disciplines who would like to learn about the uses of statistics in gathering, reporting, and analyzing data.

From the reviews: "All in all, Graham Borradaile has written and interesting and idiosyncratic book on statistics for geoscientists that will be welcome among students, researchers, and practitioners dealing with orientation data. That should include engineering geologists who work with things like rock fracture orientation measurements or clast alignment in paleoseismic trenches. It won’t replace the collection of statistics and geostatistics texts in my library, but it will have a place among them and will likely be one of several references to which I turn when working with orientation data.... The text is easy to follow and illustrations are generally clear and easy to read..."(William C. Haneberg, Haneberg Geoscience)

Practical Statistics for Geographers and Earth Scientists provides an introductory guide to the principles and application of statistical analysis in context. This book helps students to gain the level of competence in statistical procedures necessary for independent investigations, field-work and other projects. The aim is to explain statistical techniques using data relating to relevant geographical, geospatial, earth and environmental science examples, employing graphics as well as mathematical notation for maximum clarity. Advice is given on asking the appropriate preliminary research questions to ensure that the correct data is collected for the chosen statistical analysis method. The book offers a practical guide to making the transition from understanding principles of spatial and non-spatial statistical techniques to planning a series analyses and generating results using statistical and spreadsheet computer software. Learning outcomes included in each chapter International focus Explains the underlying mathematical basis of spatial and non-spatial statistics Provides an geographical, geospatial, earth and environmental science context for the use of statistical methods Written in an accessible, user-friendly style Datasets available on accompanying website at www.wiley.com/go/Walford

The proceedings of this conference contain keynote addresses on recent developments in geotechnical reliability and limit state design in geotechnics. It also contains invited lectures on such topics as modelling of soil variability, simulation of random fields and probability of rock joints. Contents: Keynote addresses on recent development on geotechnical reliability and limit state design in geotechnics, and invited lectures on modelling of soil variability, simulation of random field, probabilistic of rock joints, and probabilistic design of foundations and slopes. Other papers on analytical techniques in geotechnical reliability, modelling of soil properties, and probabilistic analysis of slopes, embankments and foundations.

Reservoir Characterization II contains the proceedings of the Second International Reservoir Characterization Conference held in Dallas, Texas in June 1989. Contributors focus on the characterization of reservoir processes and cover topics ranging from surface roughness in porous media and reservoir characterization at the mesoscopic scale to shale clast heterogeneities and their effect on fluid flow, permeability patterns in fluvial sandstones, and reservoir management using 3-D seismic data. This book is organized into six sections encompassing 43 chapters. The first 20 chapters deal with reservoir characterization at the microscopic, mesoscopic, and macroscopic scales. Topics include low-contrast resistivity sandstone formations; the use of centrifuge and computer tomography to quantify saturation distribution and capillary pressures; and cross-well seismology as a tool for reservoir geophysics. The chapters that follow deal with reservoir characterization at the megascopic scale; fractal heterogeneity of clastic reservoirs; heterogeneity and effective permeability of porous rocks; and drilling fluid design based on reservoir characterization. A chapter that outlines a procedure for estimating permeability anisotropy with a minipermeameter concludes the book. This book is a valuable resource for students and practitioners of petroleum engineering, geology and geological engineering, petroleum exploration, and geophysics.