Statistical analysis is essential to the field of environmental sciences, allowing researchers to gain an understanding of environmental issues through researching and developing potential solutions to the issues they study. The applications of statistical methods to environmental sciences are numerous and varied. Environmental statistics are used in many fields including; health and safety organizations, standard bodies, research institutes, water and river authorities, meteorological organizations, fisheries, protection agencies, and in risk, pollution, regulation and control concerns. Environmental statistics is especially pertinent and widely used in the academic, governmental, regulatory, technological, and consulting industries. Specific applications of statistical analysis within the field of environmental science include earthquake risk analysis, environmental policymaking, ecological sampling planning, environmental forensics. Within the scope of environmental statistics, there are two main categories of their uses. •
Descriptive statistics is not used to make inferences about data, but simply to describe its characteristics. •
Inferential statistics is used to make inferences about data, test hypotheses or make predictions. Types of studies covered in environmental statistics include: • Baseline studies to document the present state of an environment to provide background in case of unknown changes in the future; • Targeted studies to describe the likely impact of changes being planned or of accidental occurrences; • Regular monitoring to attempt to detect changes in the environment. ==Sources==