Random Field Models in Earth Sciences

This book is about modeling as a prinicipal component of scientific investigations. In general terms, modeling is the funamental process of combining intellectual creativity with physical knowledge and mathematical techniques in order to learn the properties of the mechanisms underlying a physical phenomenon and make predictions. The book focuses on a specific class of models, namely, random field models and certain of their physical applications in the context of a stochastic data analysis and processing research program. The term application is considered here in the sense wherein the mathematical random field model is shaping, but is also being shaped by, its objects.This book explores the application of random field models and stochastic data processing to problems in hydrogeology, geostatistics, climate modeling, and oil reservoir engineering, among others Researchers in the geosciences who work with models of natural processes will find discussion of; - Spatiotemporal random fields - Space transformation - Multidimensional estimation - Simulation - Sampling design - Stochastic partial differential equations

George Christakos is a Professor in the Department of Geography at San Diego State University (USA) and in the Institute of Island & Coastal Ecosystems, Ocean College at Zhejiang University (China). He is an expert in spatiotemporal random field modeling of natural systems, and his teaching and research focus on the integrative analysis of natural phenomena; spatiotemporal random field theory; uncertainty assessment; pollution monitoring and control; human exposure risk and environmental health; space-time statistics and geostatistics.