This book brings together a representative set of Earth System Science (ESS) applications of the neural network (NN) technique. It examines a progression of atmospheric and oceanic problems, which, from the mathematical point of view, can be formulated as complex, multidimensional, and nonlinear mappings. It is shown that these problems can be solved utilizing a particular type of NN - the multilayer perceptron (MLP). This type of NN applications covers the majority of NN applications developed in ESSs such as meteorology, oceanography, atmospheric and oceanic satellite remote sensing, numerical weather prediction, and climate studies. The major properties of the mappings and MLP NNs are formulated and discussed. Also, the book presents basic background for each introduced application and provides an extensive set of references.
"This is an excellent book to learn how to apply artificial neural network methods to earth system sciences. The author, Dr. Vladimir Krasnopolsky, is a universally recognized master in this field. With his vast knowledge and experience, he carefully guides the reader through a broad variety of problems found in the earth system sciences where neural network methods can be applied fruitfully. (...) The broad range of topics covered in this book ensures that researchers/graduate students from many fields (...) will find it an invaluable guide to neural network methods." (Prof. William W. Hsieh, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada)
"Vladimir Krasnopolsky has been the "founding father" of applying computation intelligence methods to environmental science; (...) Dr. Krasnopolsky has created a masterful exposition of a young, yet maturing field that promises to advance a deeper understanding of best modeling practices in environmental science." (Dr. Sue Ellen Haupt, National Center for Atmospheric Research, Boulder, USA)
"Vladimir Krasnopolsky has written an important and wonderful book on applications of neural networks to replace complex and expensive computational algorithms within Earth System Science models. He is uniquely qualified to write this book, since he has been a true pioneer with regard to many of these applications. (...) Many other examples of creative emulations will inspire not just readers interested in the Earth Sciences, but any other modeling practitioner (...) to address both theoretical and practical complex problems that may (or will!) arise in a complex system." " (Prof. Eugenia Kalnay, University of Maryland, USA)
Dr. Vladimir Krasnopolsky holds a MSc in Physics (majored in Theoretical and Mathematical Physics) and a PhD in Physics obtained from the Moscow State University. After graduating, he has worked there as a Senior Research Scientist at the Institute of Nuclear Physics. He has shortly worked as a Research Scientist at the George Washington University (Department of Electrical Engineering & Computer Science), before becoming a Physical Scientist at the NCEP/NWS/NOAA as well as an Adjunct Professor at the Earth System Science Interdisciplinary Center of the University of Maryland. Prof. Krasnopolsky has won the NMC (NOAA) Outstanding Performance Award (for innovative research on the application of neural networks to satellite image processing) in 1994, and the "Best of Conference" Award (at the International Joint Conference on Neural Networks), Washington D.C. in 1999. Dr. Krasnopolsky is a member (former Chair) of American Meteorological Society Committee on Artificial Intelligence Applications to Environmental Science and a member of IEEE/CSI/INNS Working Group (Task Force) on Computational Intelligence in Earth and Environmental Sciences.
