Methods and Applications of Statistics in the Atmospheric and Earth Sciences

Based on the multifaceted 16-volume Encyclopedia of Statistical Sciences, Second Edition, Methods and Applications of Statistics in the Atmospheric and Earth Sciences offers guidance on the application of statistical methods for conducting research in these fields of study. With contributions from more than 100 leading experts in academia and industry, this volume combines key articles from the Encyclopedia with newly developed topics addressing some of the more critical issues, including pollution, droughts, and volcanic activity.

Readers will gain a thorough understanding of cutting-edge methods for the acquisition and analysis of data across a wide range of subject areas, from geophysics, geology, and biogeography to meteorology, forestry, agriculture, animal science, and ornithology.

Each contribution offers authoritative yet easily accessible coverage of statistical concepts. With updated references and discussion of emerging topics, readers are provided with the various statistical methods, techniques, strategies, and applications that are essential for tackling critical issues in environmental science research.

Featuring a balance of classical and cutting-edge methodologies, Methods and Applications of Statistics in the Atmospheric and Earth Sciences is an excellent resource for researchers, professionals, and students in the fields of sociology, psychology, philosophy, education, political science, and the related disciplines who would like to learn about the uses of statistics in gathering, reporting, and analyzing data.

Preface v

Contributors 1

1 Adaptive Sampling 1

2 Agricultural Surveys 8

3 Allometry 20

4 Atmospheric Statistics 27

5 Capture—Recapture Methods—I 35

6 Capture-Recapture Methods—II 43

7 Cluster Sampling 50

8 Distance Sampling 53

9 Ecological Statistics 59

10 Environmental Statistics 67

11 Estimation of Species Richness and Shared Species Richness 76

12 Geographic Information Systems 112

13 Geostatistics 121

14 Landsat Data Analysis in Crop Area Estimation 130

15 Latin Hypercube Sampling 140

16 Line Intercept Sampling 146

17 Line Transect Sampling 148

18 Methods for Drought Analysis and Forecasting 150

19 Ranked Set Sampling Methodology for Environmental Data 185

20 Spatial Data Analysis 212

21 Spatial Processes 216

22 Spatial Sampling 223

23 Statistics in Agriculture 228

24 Statistics in Animal Science 232

25 Statistics in Biogeography 239

26 Statistics in Fisheries Research 246

27 Statistics in Forestry 251

28 Statistics in Geography 266

29 Statistics in Geology 272

30 Statistics in Geophysics 276

31 Statistics in Ornithology 292

32 Stereology 304

33 Stylometry 310

34 Systematic Sampling 318

35 Traffic Flow Problems 322

36 Transect Methods 326

37 Weather Modification—I 331

38 Weather Modification—II 338

39 Wildlife Sampling 349

Index 354