Upscaling and Downscaling Methods for Environmental Research

2000 ed
ISBN: 978-0-7923-6339-2
Verlag: Springer

Buch, Englisch, 204 Seiten, Book, Format (B × H): 164 mm x 249 mm, Gewicht: 477 g

Reihe: Developments in Plant and Soil Sciences

Environmental studies typically involve the combination of dynamic models with data sources at various spatial and temporal scales. Also, the scale of the model output is rarely in tune with the scale at which decision-makers require answers or implement environmental measures. Consequently, the question has been raised how to obtain results at the appropriate scale. Models, usually developed at the scale of a research project, have to be applied to larger areas (extrapolation), with incomplete data coverage (interpolation) and to different supports (upscaling and downscaling) to facilitate studies for decision-makers. This book gives an overview of the various problems involved, and focuses on a description of upscaling and downscaling methods that are known to exist. Furthermore, this book is the first in its kind in that it contains a decision support system that advises the practitioner on which upscaling or downscaling method to use in his specific context. This book is meant for an audience of MSc- and PhD-students, applied researchers and practitioners in soil science, hydrology, (agro) ecology, agronomy and the environmental sciences in general.

Zielgruppe

Research

Autoren/Hrsg.

Bierkens, Marc F. P.

Finke, Peter A.

Willigen, Peter de

de Willigen, P.

Inhaltsverzeichnis

Preface. 1: Introduction. 1.1. The problem of scale transfer. 1.2. Aims and scope. 1.3. Definitions. 1.4. Contents of this book. 2: Upscaling. 2.1. A classification of upscaling methods. 2.2. Averaging of observations or output variables. 2.3. Finding representative parameters or input variables. 2.4. Averaging of model equations. 2.5. Model simplification. 3: Downscaling. 3.1. A classification of downscaling methods. 3.2. Empirical functions. 3.3. Mechanistic models. 3.4. Fine scale auxiliary information. 4: A simple DSS for upscaling and downscaling. 4.1. Purpose and philosophy of the DSS. 4.2. Functionality and options at startup. 4.3. Definition of the research chain over the scales. 4.4. Enter the DSS from the research chain. 4.5. DSS upscaling and downscaling. Appendix: Random Variables and Stochastic Functions. Glossary. References. Index.