Assessment of the Fate and Effects of Toxic Agents on Water Resources


Book Description

Water has become one of the potential targets of terrorists. This volume addresses the basic scientific concepts that must be integrated by decision-makers to minimize damages and optimize recovery operations in the aftermath of such an attack. It addresses the multidisciplinary approaches for rapid diagnoses and assessments, and offers a step-by-step treatment of all aspects of ecosystem processes, modelling and monitoring.




Water Quality Management


Book Description

During 1978-1982 the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA) was responsible for a research project on Environmental Quality Control and Management. The project was begun under the direction of Professor O. F. Vasiliev (from the Institute of Hydrodynamics of the Siberian Branch of the USSR Academy of Sciences) and was subsequently led by myself. This review is very much a re'fiection of that IIASA project. The major themes of the IIASA project were: (i) research into the methodological aspects of modeling river and lake sys tems [some of the principal results of this research appear in M. B. Beck and G. van Straten (eds. ) (1983), Uncertainty and Forecasting of Water Quality (Springer, Berlin (West)), and in K. Fedra (1983), Environmental Modeling Under Uncertainty: Monte Carlo Simulation (IIASA Research Report RR-83-28)]; (ii) case studies in the application of mathematical models to lake eutrophi cation control [results of which are summarized in L. Somlyody, S. Hero dek, and J. Fischer (eds. ) (1983), Eutrophication of Shallow Lakes: Model ing and Management (The Lake Balaton Case Study) (IIASA Collaborative Proceedings CP-83-S3), and in K. Fedra (1983), A Modular Approach to Comprehensive System Simulation: A Case Study of Lakes and Watersheds (in W. K. Lauenroth, G. V. Skogerboe, and M. Flug (eds. ), Analysis of Ecological Systems: State-of-the-Art in Ecological Modelling, pp. 195-204. Elsevier, Amsterdam)]; iv (iii) a policy study of operational water qua,lity management [M. B. Beck (1981), Operational Water Quality Management: Beyond Planning and Design (IIASA Executive Report ER-7)].










Uncertainty and Forecasting of Water Quality


Book Description

Since the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis began its study of water quality modeling and management in 1977, it has been interested in the relations between uncertainty and the problems of model calibration and prediction. The work has focused on the theme of modeling poorly defined environmental systems, a principal topic of the effort devoted to environmental quality control and management. Accounting for the effects of uncertainty was also of central concern to our two case studies of lake eutrophication management, one dealing with Lake Balaton in Hungary and the other with several Austrian lake systems. Thus, in November 1979 we held a meeting at Laxenburg to discuss recent method ological developments in addressing problems associated with uncertainty and forecasting of water quality. This book is based on the proceedings of that meeting. The last few years have seen an increase in awareness of the issue of uncertainty in water quality and ecological modeling. This book is relevant not only to contemporary issues but also to those of the future. A lack of field data will not always be the dominant problem for water quality modeling and management; more sophisticated measuring techniques and more comprehensive monitoring networks will come to be more widely applied. Rather, the important problems of the future are much more likely to emerge from the enhanced facility of data processing and to concern the meaningful interpretation, assimilation., and use of the information thus obtained.




Environmental Fluid Mechanics


Book Description

Sponsored by the Fluids Committee of the Engineering Mechanics Division of ASCE. This report provides environmental engineers with a comprehensive survey of recent developments in the application of fluid mechanics theories to treat environmental problems. Chapters cover principles of fluid mechanics, as well as contemporary applications to environmental problems involving river, lake, coastal, and groundwater areas. Topics include: turbulent diffusion; mixing of a turbulent jet in crossflow -- the advected line puff; multi-phase plumes in uniform, stratified, and flowing environments; turbulent transport processes across natural streams; three-dimensional hydrodynamic and salinity transport modeling in estuaries; fluid flows and reactive chemical transport in variably saturated subsurface media; heat and mass transport in porous media; parameter identification of environmental systems; finite element analysis of stratified lake hydrodynamics; water quality modeling in reservoirs; and linear systems approach to river water quality analysis In addition to providing valuable information to practitioners, this book also serves as a text for an advanced undergraduate or introductory graduate level course.




Computer Models for Water-Resources Planning and Management


Book Description

This report is designed to help water managers & planners who are not expert in modeling, & modeling experts in one area who are interested in surveying available models in another area. Covers: model development & distribution org's.; general-purpose software; demand forecasting & balancing supply with demand; water distribution system models; ground water models; watershed runoff models; stream, hydraulics models; river & reservoir water quality models; & reservoir/river system operation models. Inventory of selected models appendix. Tables.