ABSTRACT
This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book explores basic skills in algebra and trigonometry. It provides an introduction to the computer software used to visualize a range of environmental data sets, including the output from environmental models. The book discusses a tutorial on how to use gnuplot to handle a number of different types of data and to create a range of different plot styles. It aims to analyze the reader with the basics of gawk by showing how it can be used to process a small example data set. The book focuses on the solar radiation theme by modeling its interaction with plant canopies on Earth’s surface. It demonstrates the difference between analytical and numerical solutions to environmental models. The book shows how chaotic behavior can be produced, in certain circumstances, by deterministic systems.
