Geostatistics for Environmental Scientists

There are many factors that environmental scientists should consider in their research. Weather and climate vary widely between locations, soil varies at every spatial scale at which it is examined, and even man-made attributes, such as the distribution of pollution, fluctuate significantly. To analyse the varied kinds of data and to predict at unvisited places from them, research scientists need to be familiar with the techniques of Geostatistics. This revised and fully updated second edition of Geostatistics for Environmental Scientists provides comprehensive coverage of the techniques involved in this vital branch of statistics. The book introduces readers to the most up-to-date statistical techniques, including, sampling, data screening, spatial covariances, the variogram and its modelling; includes a new chapter on stochastic simulation, and covers the latest methods, such as residual maximum likelihood and factorial kriging analysis; adopts a practical approach throughout, illustrating the applications with worked examples and case studies; provides step-by-step guidance for analysing environmental survey data; explains the underlying theory and rationale behind the choices faced by the researchers at each stage, allowing the reader to appreciate the assumptions and constraints involved. The accessible style of Geostatistics for Environmental Scientists, Second Edition makes this text invaluable to advanced undergraduate and graduate students of spatial variation and environmental research.