Models in Environmental Research

1 Models as Focusing Tools: Linking Nature and the Social World.- Abstract.- 1.1 Models as Focusing Tools: Linking Nature and the Social World.- 1.2 The Practice of Modeling.- 1.3 The Methodology of Modeling.- 1.4 Isomorphism.- 1.5 Quantification.- 1.6 Modeling Societal Sensitivity.- 1.7 Examples of Models.- 1.8 The Poverty of Economics.- 1.9 Hybrid Forms or the Linkage between Social and Physical Processes.- Appendix: Additional Comments of Modeling Climate and Societal Sensitivity.- 2 Models between Academia and Applications.- Abstract.- 2.1 Introduction.- 2.2 General Properties of Models.- 2.3 Purpose of Models.- 2.4 Conclusions.- Acknowledgments.- 3 Basic Concepts in Dynamical Modeling.- Abstract.- 3.1 Introduction.- 3.2 Classical Mechanics.- 3.3 Ideal Fluids.- 3.4 Thermodynamics.- 3.5 Dynamical Systems.- 3.6 Statistical Mechanics.- 3.7 Stochastic Processes.- 3.8 Discussion.- Acknowledgments.- 4 Process-oriented Models in Physical Oceanography.- Abstract.- 4.1 Introduction.- 4.2 Examples.- 4.3 Concluding Remarks.- Acknowledgments.- 5 Mathematical Models in Environmental Research.- 5.1 Introduction.- 5.2 Mathematical Models — an Overview.- 5.3 From Nature to Navier-Stokes’ Equations.- 5.4 From Differential Equations to a Numerical Representation.- 5.5 Summary.- Acknowledgments.- 6 Physical Modeling of Flow and Dispersion.- 6.1 Introduction.- 6.2 Properties of Wind-Tunnel Boundary Layers.- 6.3 Dimensional Analysis.- 6.4 Matching of Similarity Requirements.- 6.5 Experiments.- 6.6 Variation of Similarity Parameters.- 6.7 Parameterisation of Thermodynamic Processes.- 6.8 Small-Scale/Full-Scale Comparisons.- 6.9 Investigation of Obstacle Effects.- 6.10 Conclusions.- Acknowledgements.- 7 Conceptual Models for Ecology-Related Decisions.- Abstract.- 7.1 Introduction.-7.2 The Wadden Sea — a Sensitive Environment.- 7.3 The Environmental Sensitivity Index (ESI) for Wadden Sea Areas.- 7.4 Environmental (Ecological) Risk Assessment (ERA).- 7.5 Ecological Monitoring of the Benthos.- 7.6 Conclusions.- 8 Models in the Mechanics of Materials.- Abstract.- 8.1 Introduction.- 8.2 Modeling in the Mechanics of Materials.- 8.3 Examples.- 8.4 Conclusions.- 9 Mathematical Morphology.- Abstract.- 9.1 Introduction.- 9.2 An Introductive Example.- 9.3 The Morphological Tool Box.- 9.4 Quantification and Morphological Measurements.- 9.5 Random Models.- 10 Statistical Interpolation Models.- Abstract.- 10.1 Introduction.- 10.2 The Random Function Model.- 10.3 Multivariate Geostatistics.- 10.4 Non-Stationary Model.- 10.5 Conclusion.- 11 Statistics — an Indispensable Tool in Dynamical Modeling.- Abstract.- 11.1 Environmental Research.- 11.2 State Space Models.- 11.3 Statistics and Quasi-realistic Models.- 11.4 Reduced “Cognitive” Models.- Acknowledgments.- References.