Foundations of Environmental Transport Processes

Understanding how pollutants spread through natural systems is crucial for effective environmental protection and civil engineering design. This course introduces the core concepts governing the movement of mass and energy in the environment. By the end of this course, you will be able to set up and solve basic mass balance equations, distinguish between advective and dispersive transport mechanisms, and apply these principles to foundational environmental risk assessment scenarios. What you'll learn: * Understand the fundamental drivers of environmental transport: advection, diffusion, and dispersion. * Apply the principle of mass balance to derive simple steady-state and transient transport models. * Analyze contaminant fate and transport in different media, including surface water, groundwater, and the atmosphere. * Practice solving one-dimensional transport problems using analytical methods. * Learn foundational approaches to quantifying mixing and reaction kinetics within transport systems. The course begins with defining key terminology and physical concepts, then progresses through the mathematical formulation of transport phenomena. You will work through practical exercises focused on applying these concepts to solve engineering problems. This course is designed for absolute beginners in environmental engineering, civil engineering, or environmental science who want a foundational understanding of transport processes. No prior knowledge of advanced differential equations is required, just basic algebra. Start building your expertise in environmental modeling today.