Environmental modeling application domains

1. Environmental modelingapplication domains an overview of environmental topics and domains K.Fedra ‘97

2. Modeling Domains • Atmospheric systems • Hydrologic systems • Land surface and subsurface • Biological and ecological systems • Risks and hazards • Technological systems • Management and policy models K.Fedra ‘97

3. Modeling Domains Atmospheric systems • weather forecasting • climate models • air pollution: industry, traffic, domestic sources, accidental releases (hazardous substances) K.Fedra ‘97

4. Modeling Domains Atmospheric systems • weather forecasting • climate models • air pollution: industry, traffic, domestic sources, accidental releases (hazardous substances) K.Fedra ‘97

5. Modeling Domains climate models: attempt to analyse the effects of greenhouse gas emissions on the global climate, energy balance, sea level rise, water resources, vegetation and wildlife, human health, etc. K.Fedra ‘97

6. Modeling Domains climate models: global circulation models GCMs use a coarse resolution (between 3 to 6 deg. lat.long, and a few vertical layers. Comparison with long-term climate measurements (30 year average July temperatures). K.Fedra ‘97

7. Modeling Domains climate models: scenario assumptions usually are based on an increase in atmospheric CO2 Example: UKMO current CO2 levels. K.Fedra ‘97

8. Modeling Domains climate models: scenario assumptions usually are based on an increase in atmospheric CO2 Example: UKMO doubled CO2 levels. K.Fedra ‘97

9. Modeling Domains Air pollution modeling • estimation of the source term: • rate and duration of release • source size, location • initial buoyancy and momentum K.Fedra ‘97

10. Modeling Domains estimation of the source term: embedded expert system with an object data base. K.Fedra ‘97

11. Modeling Domains Air pollution modeling • pollutant transport • advection by wind • turbulent and molecular diffusion • buoyancy effects (gases, particles) • deposition, chemical reactions, radioactive decay K.Fedra ‘97

12. Modeling Domains pollutant transport Gaussian 2D model (USEPA ISC) K.Fedra ‘97

13. Modeling Domains Air pollution modeling • impacts and hazards • human end environmental exposure • damage through explosion and fire • damage through chemical reactions (corrosion) K.Fedra ‘97

14. Modeling Domains impacts and hazards: estimated by overlays of long-term air quality values (simulated with ISC-LT model) and land use or population maps. K.Fedra ‘97

15. Modeling Domains Hydrologic systems • hydrological cycle, rainfall-runoff • river flow and flooding • water distribution and allocation • reservoir operations • water quality, eutrophication, waste allocation • groundwater systems K.Fedra ‘97

16. Modeling Domains hydrological cycle, rainfall-runoff K.Fedra ‘97

17. Modeling Domains rainfall-runoff model: describes the outflow from a catchment as a function of basin data (orography, soils land cover, drainage) precipitation, temperature. K.Fedra ‘97

18. Modeling Domains rainfall-runoff model scenario of landuse change: forested area 65% K.Fedra ‘97

19. Modeling Domains rainfall-runoff model scenario of landuse change: forested area 0% K.Fedra ‘97

20. Modeling Domains water distribution and allocation dynamic network model with supply and demand nodes K.Fedra ‘97

21. Modeling Domains water distribution and allocation: generic network with geo- referenced nodes K.Fedra ‘97

22. Modeling Domains water distribution and allocation: the network editor links to the GIS data bases K.Fedra ‘97

23. Modeling Domains water quality, waste allocation: a dynamic multi-segment model (DO-BOD) linked to the river network through nodes and reaches. K.Fedra ‘97

24. Modeling Domains Coastal waters and oceans • currents and energy balance (climate modeling) • coastal water quality • nutrient cycles, eutrophication • fisheries (sustainable yield) K.Fedra ‘97

25. Modeling Domains coastal water quality: simulation of ocean outfalls with a 2D vertically integrated flow and transport particle tracking model K.Fedra ‘97

26. Modeling Domains Land surface and subsurface • erosion, soil processes • vegetation, land cover • groundwater (unsaturated and saturated zones, links to the hydrological domain) K.Fedra ‘97

27. Modeling Domains groundwater modeling: dynamic 2D (vertically integrated) flow and transport model (finite element scheme) Scenarios of landfills and aquifer restoration K.Fedra ‘97

28. Modeling Domains Biological and ecological systems • population models, predator-prey systems, food chains • ecosystem models (multi-compartment combining physical and biological elements) K.Fedra ‘97

29. Modeling Domains Agriculture and Forestry • agricultural production • livestock and grazing models • forest models (stands, growth, yield, deforestation and reforestation) K.Fedra ‘97

30. Modeling Domains Technological systems • transportation • energy systems • industrial impacts • waste management K.Fedra ‘97

31. Modeling Domains Risks and hazards • floods and droughts • erosion, desertification • spills and accidental releases • epidemiological models (pests, infectious diseases) K.Fedra ‘97

32. Modeling Domains spills and accidental releases: hazardous and toxic gas spills: chemical plants or transportation accidents K.Fedra ‘97

33. Modeling Domains Management and policy models • all of the above, but containing explicit representation of control and decision variables • economic evaluation • decision support systems K.Fedra ‘97