Environmental Transport Processes: Diffusion, Advection, and Dispersion

Understanding how pollutants, nutrients, and particles migrate through natural systems is critical for protecting our ecosystems and public health. This text-based course guides you through the fundamental physics and mathematics governing substance transport in the environment. You will transition from basic fluid flow concepts to confidently analyzing complex mass-transfer scenarios in rivers, lakes, groundwater, and the atmosphere. Learn key definitions and terminology of fluid mechanics and environmental systems. Understand the distinct mechanisms of molecular diffusion, advection, and turbulent dispersion. Apply mass balance equations to track contaminant concentration changes over time. Practice formulating step-by-step analytical solutions for one-dimensional transport problems. Explore modern computational approaches to modeling transport phenomena without needing complex software. We begin with foundational definitions of fluid properties and mass transfer before moving into practical engineering calculations. This course is designed for beginners in civil engineering, environmental science, or public health, requiring only basic algebra and a curiosity about the natural world. Start reading today to build your foundational knowledge in environmental fluid mechanics.