Statistical Methods for Groundwater Monitoring


Book Description

This book explains the statistical methods used to analyze the huge volume of data that groundwater monitoring wells produce in a comprehensive manner accessible to engineers and scientists who may not have a strong background in statistics. In addition, the book provides statistical methods to make the most accurate use of the data and shows how to set up an effective monitoring system.




Statistical Methods for Groundwater Monitoring


Book Description

A new edition of the most comprehensive overview of statistical methods for environmental monitoring applications Thoroughly updated to provide current research findings, Statistical Methods for Groundwater Monitoring, Second Edition continues to provide a comprehensive overview and accessible treatment of the statistical methods that are useful in the analysis of environmental data. This new edition expands focus on statistical comparison to regulatory standards that are a vital part of assessment, compliance, and corrective action monitoring in the environmental sciences. The book explores quantitative concepts useful for surface water monitoring as well as soil and air monitoring applications while also maintaining a focus on the analysis of groundwater monitoring data in order to detect environmental impacts from a variety of sources, such as industrial activity and waste disposal. The authors introduce the statistical properties of alternative approaches, such as false positive and false negative rates, that are associated with each test and the factors related to these error rates. The Second Edition also features: An introduction to Intra-laboratory Calibration Curves and random-effects regression models for non-constant measurement variability Coverage of statistical prediction limits for a gamma-distributed random variable, with a focus on estimation and testing of parameters in environmental monitoring applications A unified treatment of censored data with the computation of statistical prediction, tolerance, and control limits Expanded coverage of statistical issues related to laboratory practice, such as detection and quantitation limits An updated chapter on regulatory issues that outlines common mistakes to avoid in groundwater monitoring applications as well as an introduction to the newest regulations for both hazardous and municipal solid waste facilities Each chapter provides a general overview of a problem, followed by statistical derivation of the solution and a relevant example complete with computational details that allow readers to perform routine application of the statistical results. Relevant issues are highlighted throughout, and recommendations are also provided for specific problems based on characteristics such as number of monitoring wells, number of constituents, distributional form of measurements, and detection frequency. Statistical Methods for Groundwater Monitoring, Second Edition is an excellent supplement to courses on environmental statistics at the upper-undergraduate and graduate levels. It is also a valuable resource for researchers and practitioners in the fields of biostatistics, engineering, and the environmental sciences who work with statistical methods in their everyday work.




Statistical Methods in Water Resources


Book Description

Data on water quality and other environmental issues are being collected at an ever-increasing rate. In the past, however, the techniques used by scientists to interpret this data have not progressed as quickly. This is a book of modern statistical methods for analysis of practical problems in water quality and water resources.The last fifteen years have seen major advances in the fields of exploratory data analysis (EDA) and robust statistical methods. The 'real-life' characteristics of environmental data tend to drive analysis towards the use of these methods. These advances are presented in a practical and relevant format. Alternate methods are compared, highlighting the strengths and weaknesses of each as applied to environmental data. Techniques for trend analysis and dealing with water below the detection limit are topics covered, which are of great interest to consultants in water-quality and hydrology, scientists in state, provincial and federal water resources, and geological survey agencies.The practising water resources scientist will find the worked examples using actual field data from case studies of environmental problems, of real value. Exercises at the end of each chapter enable the mechanics of the methodological process to be fully understood, with data sets included on diskette for easy use. The result is a book that is both up-to-date and immediately relevant to ongoing work in the environmental and water sciences.




Statistical Methods for Environmental Pollution Monitoring


Book Description

This book discusses a broad range of statistical design and analysis methods that are particularly well suited to pollution data. It explains key statistical techniques in easy-to-comprehend terms and uses practical examples, exercises, and case studies to illustrate procedures. Dr. Gilbert begins by discussing a space-time framework for sampling pollutants. He then shows how to use statistical sample survey methods to estimate average and total amounts of pollutants in the environment, and how to determine the number of field samples and measurements to collect for this purpose. Then a broad range of statistical analysis methods are described and illustrated. These include: * determining the number of samples needed to find hot spots * analyzing pollution data that are lognormally distributed * testing for trends over time or space * estimating the magnitude of trends * comparing pollution data from two or more populations New areas discussed in this sourcebook include statistical techniques for data that are correlated, reported as less than the measurement detection limit, or obtained from field-composited samples. Nonparametric statistical analysis methods are emphasized since parametric procedures are often not appropriate for pollution data. This book also provides an illustrated comprehensive computer code for nonparametric trend detection and estimation analyses as well as nineteen statistical tables to permit easy application of the discussed statistical techniques. In addition, many publications are cited that deal with the design of pollution studies and the statistical analysis of pollution data. This sourcebook will be a useful tool for applied statisticians, ecologists, radioecologists, hydrologists, biologists, environmental engineers, and other professionals who deal with the collection, analysis, and interpretation of pollution in air, water, and soil.




Using Statistical Methods for Water Quality Management


Book Description

STATISTICS IN PRACTICE A practical exploration of alternative approaches to analyzing water-related environmental issues Written by an experienced environmentalist and recognized expert in the field, this text is designed to help water resource managers and scientists to formulate, implement, and interpret more effective methods of water quality management. After presenting the basic foundation for using statistical methods in water resource management, including the use of appropriate hypothesis test procedures and some rapid calculation procedures, the author offers a range of practical problems and solutions on environmental topics that often arise, but are not generally covered. These include: * Formulating water quality standards * Determining compliance with standards * MPNs and microbiology * Water-related, human health risk modeling * Trends, impacts, concordance, and detection limits In order to promote awareness of alternative approaches to analyzing data, both frequentist and Bayesian, statistical methods are contrasted in terms of their applicability to various environmental issues. Each chapter ends with a number of set problems for which full answers are provided. The book also encourages discussion between technical staff and management before embarking on statistical studies.







Groundwater Contamination and Analysis at Hazardous Waste Sites


Book Description

This comprehensive reference describes investigations of the fate of toxic chemicals emanating from hazardous waste sites and contaminating groundwater, discussing the hydrogeochemistry at US, Canadian, Australian, and German sites to reflect the different approaches used around the world.;Written by over 30 international experts in the field, Groundwater Contamination and Analysis at Hazardous Waste Sites: presents case histories spanning 30 years of activities by the United States Geological Survey's Organics in Water project, including studies of pesticide, munition, and wood preservative residues contaminating groundwater; outlines the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's SW-846 methods of analysis for groundwater samples taken at hazardous waste sites; details the analytical requirements for qualitative surveys, regulatory compliance, and research programs; examines the use of statistics at site investigations and waste disposal facilities as well as data interpretation techniques such as multivariate plots; covers the application of a portable gas chromatograph in studying a vapor-phase plume of trichloroethylene, giving tips about problems that may lead to variability in the data; and explores dense nonaqueous-phase liquid dissolution using Raoult's law, biotransformation of the dissolved constituents, and their sorption to aquifer materials.;Extensively illustrated with more than 250 figures, tables, and display equations, Groundwater Contamination and Analysis at Hazardous Waste Sites is a practical tool for pollution control and environmental engineers, hydrogeologists, analytical chemists, and upper-level undergraduate and graduate students in these disciplines.




The Handbook of Groundwater Engineering


Book Description

Due to the increasing demand for adequate water supply caused by the augmenting global population, groundwater production has acquired a new importance. In many areas, surface waters are not available in sufficient quantity or quality. Thus, an increasing demand for groundwater has resulted. However, the residence of time of groundwater can be of the order of thousands of years while surface waters is of the order of days. Therefore, substantially more attention is warranted for transport processes and pollution remediation in groundwater than for surface waters. Similarly, pollution remediation problems in groundwater are generally complex. This excellent, timely resource covers the field of groundwater from an engineering perspective, comprehensively addressing the range of subjects related to subsurface hydrology. It provides a practical treatment of the flow of groundwater, the transport of substances, the construction of wells and well fields, the production of groundwater, and site characterization and remediation of groundwater pollution. No other reference specializes in groundwater engineering to such a broad range of subjects. Its use extends to: The engineer designing a well or well field The engineer designing or operating a landfill facility for municipal or hazardous wastes The hydrogeologist investigating a contaminant plume The engineer examining the remediation of a groundwater pollution problem The engineer or lawyer studying the laws and regulations related to groundwater quality The scientist analyzing the mechanics of solute transport The geohydrologist assessing the regional modeling of aquifers The geophysicist determining the characterization of an aquifer The cartographer mapping aquifer characteristics The practitioner planning a monitoring network




Plans and Practices for Groundwater Protection at the Los Alamos National Laboratory


Book Description

The world's first nuclear bomb was a developed in 1954 at a site near the town of Los Alamos, New Mexico. Designated as the Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) in 1981, the 40-square-mile site is today operated by Log Alamos National Security LLC under contract to the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). Like other sites in the nation's nuclear weapons complex, the LANL site harbors a legacy of radioactive waste and environmental contamination. Radioactive materials and chemical contaminants have been detected in some portions of the groundwater beneath the site. Under authority of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the State of New Mexico regulates protection of its water resources through the New Mexico Environment Department (NMED). In 1995 NMED found LANL's groundwater monitoring program to be inadequate. Consequently LANL conducted a detailed workplan to characterize the site's hydrogeology in order to develop an effective monitoring program. The study described in Plans and Practices for Groundwater Protection at the Los Alamos National Laboratory: Final Report was initially requested by NNSA, which turned to the National Academies for technical advice and recommendations regarding several aspects of LANL's groundwater protection program. The DOE Office of Environmental Management funded the study. The study came approximately at the juncture between completion of LANL's hydrogeologic workplan and initial development of a sitewide monitoring plan.




Statistical Methods for Evaluating Safety in Medical Product Development


Book Description

This book gives professionals in clinical research valuable information on the challenging issues of the design, execution, and management of clinical trials, and how to resolve these issues effectively. It also provides understanding and practical guidance on the application of contemporary statistical methods to contemporary issues in safety evaluation during medical product development. Each chapter provides sufficient detail to the reader to undertake the design and analysis of experiments at various stages of product development, including comprehensive references to the relevant literature. Provides a guide to statistical methods and application in medical product development Assists readers in undertaking design and analysis of experiments at various stages of product development Features case studies throughout the book, as well as, SAS and R code