Computational Models for Environmental Systems

Mathematical models are increasingly used to represent, understand, predict and manage environmental systems. In recent years, increasing data availability and computing power have induced dramatic changes in the way environmental models are developed and used. Models are being constructed at increasingly high resolution and complexity, while computer-based simulations allow for unprecedented uses of environmental models and data. Nonetheless, the complexity of environmental systems and the uncertainty in environmental data still pose a number of challenges in the construction, validation and use of environmental models. In this chapter, the relation between observations, modelling and numerical computing, and their implications in the environmental domain will be discussed through several examples. Without pretending to be exhaustive, the selection of examples mainly aim at highlighting the variety of contexts, application domains and modelling purposes affected by new computing technology.