Grantee Research Project Results
Hierarchical Statistical Analysis of Global and Regional Environmental Data
EPA Grant Number: R827257Title: Hierarchical Statistical Analysis of Global and Regional Environmental Data
Investigators: Cressie, Noel A.C. , Berliner, Mark
Current Investigators: Cressie, Noel A.C. , Berliner, Mark , Wilke, Christopher K.
Institution: The Ohio State University
Current Institution: The Ohio State University , University of Missouri - Kansas City
EPA Project Officer: Hahn, Intaek
Project Period: September 1, 1998 through August 31, 2001 (Extended to March 31, 2003)
Project Amount: $325,000
RFA: Environmental Statistics (1998) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: Aquatic Ecosystems , Environmental Statistics , Human Health
Description:
Hierarchical spatio-temporal statistical models will be used to provide optimal change-of-resolution filtering of massive environmental data sets from polarorbiting satellites. Compromises between statistical efficiency and computational speed will be assessed. Data from field studies. which are expensive but measure the environmental process of interest directly, will be combined with cheaper, more plentiful satellite or meteorological data to obtain high-resolution maps of the process of interest.
Approach:
The underlying approach to all three objectives is to use multivariate hierarchical statistical models as a framework for inference. To analyze massive data sets from polar-orbiting satellites, a spatial change-of-resolution model with temporal autoregressions at the coarsest scale will be used. Both Bayes and empirical Baves inference are to be implemented to gauge their effectiveness with massive data sets. Multivariate spatio-temporal dependencies are modeled through conditional distributional dependencies. Combining data can then be carried out, conceptually at least, in a statistically optimal manner.
Expected Results:
Statistically optimal formulas and algorithms for filtering Earth Observing System (EOS) satellite data onto a regular global grid are expected. Recommendations for achieving a compromise between statistical efficiency and computational speed are also expected. Finally, we expect to complete an environmental study of a problem for which combining information from various sources is needed.
Improvements in Risk Assessment or Risk Management:
A primary goal of EOS is to measure, through a series of remote-sensing instruments and satellites. climate change. Global warming would impose risks of an uneven nature throughout the world (e.g., coastal regions would be inundated by rising sea levels and lower soil moisture could be expected in the Midwest USA). This research provides optimal filtering of the EOS data that is in turn used in General Circulation Models (GCMs), and from which risks of various kinds can be calculated. Health (ecosystem or human) data will be incorporated into the problem of combining information, so that ecosystem or human health risks can be assessed accurately and precisely.
Publications and Presentations:
Publications have been submitted on this project: View all 103 publications for this projectJournal Articles:
Journal Articles have been submitted on this project: View all 19 journal articles for this projectSupplemental Keywords:
atmosphere, EMAP, epidemiology, global climate, regionalization, stratospheric ozone, RFA, Air, Scientific Discipline, Ecosystem Protection/Environmental Exposure & Risk, Economic, Social, & Behavioral Science Research Program, Environmental Statistics, Mathematics, Ecology, Ecosystem/Assessment/Indicators, Ecological Effects - Environmental Exposure & Risk, air toxics, climate change, Bayesian space-time model, EMAP, regional environmental data, Global Climate Change, satellite data, mortality rates, stratospheric ozone, environmental monitoring, global warming, risk assessment, statistical methods, statistical models, climate models, hierarchical statistical analysis, remote sensing, global environmental data, atmosphericRelevant Websites:
http://www.stat.ohio-state.edu/~sses Exit
http://www.stat.ohio-state.edu/~sses/research_epa.html Exit
Progress and Final Reports:
The perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.