Since its inception in 2013, Mathematics of Planet Earth (MPE) focuses
on mathematical issues arising in the study of our planet. Interested in
the impact of human activities on the Earth's system, this
multidisciplinary field considers the planet not only as a physical
system, but also as a system supporting life, a system organized by
humans, and a system at risk.
The articles collected in this volume demonstrate the breadth of
techniques and tools from mathematics, statistics, and operations
research used in MPE. Topics include climate modeling, the spread of
infectious diseases, stability of ecosystems, ecosystem services,
biodiversity, infrastructure restoration after an extreme event, urban
environments, food security, and food safety. Demonstrating the
mathematical sciences in action, this book presents real-world
challenges for the mathematical sciences, highlighting applications to
issues of current concern to society. Arranged into three topical
sections (Geo- and Physical Sciences; Life Sciences, Ecology and
Evolution; Socio-economics and Infrastructure), thirteen chapters
address questions such as how to measure biodiversity, what mathematics
can say about the sixth mass extinction, how to optimize the long-term
human use of natural capital, and the impact of data on infrastructure
management. The book also treats the subject of infectious diseases with
new examples and presents an introduction to the mathematics of food
systems and food security.
Each chapter functions as an introduction that can be studied
independently, offering source material for graduate student seminars
and self-study. The range of featured research topics provides
mathematical scientists with starting points for the study of our planet
and the impact of human activities. At the same time, it offers
application scientists a plethora of modern mathematical tools and
techniques to address the various topics in practice. Including hundreds
of references to the vast literature associated with each topic, this
book serves as an inspiration for further research.
