Introduction to Systems Analysis: Mathematically Modeling Natural Systems

✍ Scribed by Dieter M. Imboden, Stefan Pfenninger (auth.)

• Publisher: Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg
• Year: 2013
• Tongue: English
• Leaves: 255
• Edition: 1
• Category: Library

✦ Synopsis

Systems and their mathematical description play an important role in all branches of science. This book offers an introduction to mathematical modeling techniques. It is intended for undergrad students in applied natural science, in particular earth and environmental science, environmental engineering, as well as ecology, environmental chemistry, chemical engineering, agronomy, and forestry.

The focus is on developing the basic methods of modeling. Students will learn how to build mathematical models of their own, but also how to analyze the properties of existing models. The book neither derives mathematical formulae, nor does it describe modeling software, instead focusing on the fundamental concepts behind mathematical models. A formulary in the appendix summarizes the necessary mathematical knowledge. To support independent learners, numerous examples and problems from various scientific disciplines are provided throughout the book. Thanks in no small part to the cartoons by Nikolas Stürchler, this introduction to the colorful world of modeling is both entertaining and rich in content

✦ Table of Contents

Front Matter....Pages i-viii
Chapter 1 Introduction....Pages 1-13
Chapter 2 Mathematical Models: A First Look....Pages 15-32
Chapter 3 Static Models....Pages 33-41
Chapter 4 Linear Models with One Variable....Pages 43-79
Chapter 5 Linear Models with Several Variables....Pages 81-124
Chapter 6 Nonlinear Models....Pages 125-164
Chapter 7 Time-Discrete Models....Pages 165-188
Chapter 8 Models in Time and Space....Pages 189-226
Back Matter....Pages 227-252

✦ Subjects

Earth Sciences, general; Math. Appl. in Environmental Science; Mathematical Modeling and Industrial Mathematics