Environmental Transport Processes: Fundamentals and Analysis

Understanding environmental quality requires mastering how substances move through natural systems. This course provides the foundational knowledge necessary to analyze and predict the fate of contaminants and natural resources in the environment. By the end of this course, you will be able to define the fundamental mechanisms governing transport processes, apply quantitative models to calculate contaminant concentration over time, and interpret real-world environmental data using engineering principles. What you'll learn: * Understand the physics of advection, diffusion, and dispersion in environmental media (water, air, and subsurface). * Learn how reaction kinetics influence the fate and transformation of substances during transport. * Master the application of mass balance equations to derive governing equations for contaminant transport. * Practice solving simplified one-dimensional transport problems using analytical methods. * Apply basic numerical modeling concepts, such as box models, to analyze transport in complex environmental systems. * Analyze how environmental changes, such as flow variability, affect traditional transport dynamics. The course begins with essential terminology and fundamental definitions of environmental systems. It progresses through the core physical and chemical mechanisms of transport, culminating in practical instruction on setting up and analyzing simplified transport models. This course is designed for absolute beginners in environmental science or engineering who need a solid, quantitative introduction to transport processes. No prior knowledge of differential equations or advanced environmental topics is required. Start building your expertise in quantitative environmental analysis today.