Analyzing Environmental Data

Environmental statistics is a rapidly growing field, supported by advances in digital computing power, automated data collection systems, and interactive, linkable Internet software. Concerns over public and ecological health and the continuing need to support environmental policy-making and regulation have driven a concurrent explosion in environmental data analysis. This textbook is designed to address the need for trained professionals in this area. The book is based on a course which the authors have taught for many years, and prepares students for careers in environmental analysis centered on statistics and allied quantitative methods of data evaluation. The text extends beyond the introductory level, allowing students and environmental science practitioners to develop the expertise to design and perform sophisticated environmental data analyses. In particular, it: Provides a coherent introduction to intermediate and advanced methods for modeling and analyzing environmental data. Takes a data-oriented approach to describing the various methods. Illustrates the methods with real-world examples Features extensive exercises, enabling use as a course text. Includes examples of SAS computer code for implementation of the statistical methods. Connects to a Web site featuring solutions to exercises, extra computer code, and additional material. Serves as an overview of methods for analyzing environmental data, enabling use as a reference text for environmental science professionals. Graduate students of statistics studying environmental data analysis will find this invaluable as will practicing data analysts and environmental scientists including specialists in atmospheric science, biology and biomedicine, chemistry, ecology, environmental health, geography, and geology.

Table of Contents:
Preface. 1 Linear regression. 1.1 Simple linear regression. 1.2 Multiple linear regression. 1.3 Qualitative predictors: ANOVA and ANCOVA models. 1.4 Random-effects models. 1.5 Polynomial regression. Exercises. 2 Nonlinear regression. 2.1 Estimation and testing. 2.2 Piecewise regression models. 2.3 Exponential regression models. 2.4 Growth curves. 2.5 Rational polynomials. 2.6 Multiple nonlinear regression. Exercises. 3 Generalized linear models. 3.1 Generalizing the classical linear model. 3.2 Theory of generalized linear models. 3.3 Specific forms of generalized linear models. Exercises. 4 Quantitative risk assessment with stimulus-response data. 4.1 Potency estimation for stimulus-response data. 4.2 Risk estimation. 4.3 Benchmark analysis. 4.4 Uncertainty analysis. 4.5 Sensitivity analysis. 4.6 Additional topics. Exercises. 5 Temporal data and autoregressive modeling. 5.1 Time series. 5.2 Harmonic regression. 5.3 Autocorrelation. 5.4 Autocorrelated regression models. 5.5 Simple trend and intervention analysis. 5.6 Growth curves revisited. Exercises. 6 Spatially correlated data. 6.1 Spatial correlation. 6.2 Spatial point patterns and complete spatial randomness. 6.3 Spatial measurement. 6.4 Spatial prediction. Exercises. 7 Combining environmental information. 7.1 Combining P-values. 7.2 Effect size estimation. 7.3 Meta-analysis. 7.4 Historical control information. Exercises. 8 Fundamentals of environmental sampling. 8.1 Sampling populations – simple random sampling. 8.2 Designs to extend simple random sampling. 8.3 Specialized techniques for environmental sampling. Exercises. A Review of probability and statistical inference. A.1 Probability functions. A.2 Families of distributions. A.3 Random sampling. A.4 Parameter estimation. A.5 Statistical inference. A.6 The delta method. B Tables. References. Author index. Subject index.