Introduction to Environmental Transport Processes

Understanding how substances migrate through natural environments is critical for solving modern ecological and civil engineering challenges. This course provides a clear, text-based introduction to the physical mechanisms governing the transport, diffusion, and dispersion of chemicals and particles in water bodies and the atmosphere. You will learn to analyze environmental systems, predict pollutant pathways, and apply mathematical models to real-world scenarios. By working through structured explanations and analytical exercises, you will transition from understanding basic fluid mechanics to solving complex transport equations. What you'll learn: - Understand the fundamental mechanisms of advection, diffusion, and dispersion in environmental systems - Model pollutant transport in rivers, lakes, and the atmosphere using mass balance equations - Analyze boundary layer interactions and their effects on substance mixing - Apply modern numerical estimation techniques to predict the spread of contaminants - Evaluate environmental impact assessments using transport modeling principles This course begins with essential terminology, fluid dynamics concepts, and foundational mass-transport definitions before moving into practical modeling equations. You will read through detailed derivations, conceptual examples, and step-by-step calculations that build your engineering intuition. This course is designed for beginners in civil engineering, environmental science, or public policy who want to understand the physics of environmental mixing. No advanced engineering background is required to start. Begin your journey toward mastering environmental transport modeling today.