Environmental Modelling: Finding Simplicity in Complexity, Second Edition

• Year: 2013
• Tongue: English
• Leaves: 473
• Category: Library

✦ Synopsis

Simulation models are an established method used to investigate processes and solve practical problems in a wide variety of disciplines. Central to the concept of this second edition is the idea that environmental systems are complex, open systems. The authors present the diversity of approaches to dealing with environmental complexity and then encourage readers to make comparisons between these approaches and between different disciplines.

Environmental Modelling: Finding Simplicity in Complexity 2^nd edition is divided into four main sections:

1. An overview of methods and approaches to modelling.
2. State of the art for modelling environmental processes
3. Tools used and models for management
4. Current and future developments.

The second edition evolves from the first by providing additional emphasis and material for those students wishing to specialize in environmental modelling. This edition:

• Focuses on simplifying complex environmental systems.
• Reviews current software, tools and techniques for modelling.
• Gives practical examples from a wide variety of disciplines, e.g. climatology, ecology, hydrology, geomorphology and engineering.
• Has an associated website containing colour images, links to WWW resources and chapter support pages, including data sets relating to case studies, exercises and model animations.

This book is suitable for final year undergraduates and postgraduates in environmental modelling, environmental science, civil engineering and biology who will already be familiar with the subject and are moving on to specialize in the field. It is also designed to appeal to professionals interested in the environmental sciences, including environmental consultants, government employees, civil engineers, geographers, ecologists, meteorologists, and geochemists.

Content:
Chapter 1 Introduction (pages 1–6): John Wainwright and Mark Mulligan
Chapter 2 Modelling and Model Building (pages 7–26): Mark Mulligan and John Wainwright
Chapter 3 Time Series: Analysis and Modelling (pages 27–43): Bruce D. Malamud and Donald L. Turcotte
Chapter 4 Non?Linear Dynamics, Self?Organization and Cellular Automata Models (pages 45–67): David Favis?Mortlock
Chapter 5 Spatial Modelling and Scaling Issues (pages 69–90): Xiaoyang Zhang, Nick A. Drake and John Wainwright
Chapter 6 Environmental Applications of Computational Fluid Dynamics (pages 91–109): N. G. Wright and D. M. Hargreaves
Chapter 7 Data?Based Mechanistic Modelling and the Emulation of Large Environmental System Models (pages 111–131): Peter C. Young and David Leedal
Chapter 8 Stochastic versus Deterministic Approaches (pages 133–149): Philippe Renard, Andres Alcolea and David Ginsbourger
Chapter 9 Climate and Climate?System Modelling (pages 151–164): L. D. Danny Harvey
Chapter 10 Soil and Hillslope (Eco)Hydrology (pages 165–181): Andrew J. Baird
Chapter 11 Modelling Catchment and Fluvial Processes and their Interactions (pages 183–205): Mark Mulligan and John Wainwright
Chapter 12 Modelling Plant Ecology (pages 207–220): Rosie A. Fisher
Chapter 13 Spatial Population Models for Animals (pages 221–234): George L. W. Perry and Nick R. Bond
Chapter 14 Vegetation and Disturbance (pages 235–251): Stefano Mazzoleni, Francisco Rego, Francesco Giannino, Christian Ernest Vincenot, Gian Boris Pezzatti and Colin Legg
Chapter 15 Erosion and Sediment Transport: Finding Simplicity in a Complicated Erosion Model (pages 253–266): Richard E. Brazier
Chapter 16 Landslides, Rockfalls and Sandpiles (pages 267–275): Stefan Hergarten
Chapter 17 Finding Simplicity in Complexity in Biogeochemical Modelling (pages 277–289): Hordur V. Haraldsson and Harald Sverdrup
Chapter 18 Representing Human Decision?Making in Environmental Modelling (pages 291–307): James D. A. Millington, John Wainwright and Mark Mulligan
Chapter 19 Modelling Landscape Evolution (pages 309–331): Peter van der Beek
Chapter 20 Models Supporting Decision?Making and Policy Evaluation (pages 333–348): Mark Mulligan
Chapter 21 Models in Policy Formulation and Assessment: The WadBOS Decision?Support System (pages 349–364): Guy Engelen
Chapter 22 Soil Erosion and Conservation (pages 365–378): Mark A. Nearing
Chapter 23 Forest?Management Modelling (pages 379–398): Mark J. Twery and Aaron R. Weiskittel
Chapter 24 Stability and Instability in the Management of Mediterranean Desertification (pages 399–413): John B. Thornes
Chapter 25 Operational European Flood Forecasting (pages 415–434): Hannah Cloke, Florian Pappenberger, Jutta Thielen and Vera Thiemig
Chapter 26 Assessing Model Adequacy (pages 435–449): Michael Goldstein, Allan Seheult and Ian Vernon
Chapter 27 Pointers for the Future (pages 451–464): John Wainwright and Mark Mulligan