Transport Processes in the Environment

How do contaminants disperse in a flowing river, seep through groundwater, or migrate through the atmosphere? Understanding the physical mechanisms of mass transport is crucial for addressing modern environmental challenges and designing sustainable engineering solutions. This text-based course provides a clear, step-by-step introduction to environmental transport phenomena, helping you build the analytical skills needed to predict the fate of pollutants in natural systems. You will learn to: Understand the foundational principles of molecular diffusion, advection, and turbulent dispersion; Apply mass balance equations to model contaminant concentrations in rivers, lakes, and estuaries; Analyze transport behavior in porous media and groundwater systems; Practice solving environmental engineering equations through structured, written exercises; Explore modern transport modeling concepts and numerical approximation techniques. Starting with essential fluid mechanics and thermodynamic definitions, the course guides you through core transport equations before applying them to realistic environmental scenarios. This course is designed for beginners in civil and environmental engineering, environmental science students, and professionals seeking a solid refresher in transport processes. Start reading today to master the physical dynamics that govern our natural environment.