Environmental Accounting Workshop Niamey, Niger (Nov, 2005) - Day 1

Essential Emergy Systems Concepts

Estimates of solar emergy equivalents of tidal energy and deep earth heat and calculations of primary geobiosphere products of rain, river geopotential, atmospheric circulation, oceanic heating, winds and storms, ocean currents, and earth cycles.

Outline
Global Flows of Emergy
How the baseline transformity values were derived Convergence of Emergy into Various Forms
Global flows of Rainfall, Wind, Soil etc.

Transformities of Things
Raw materials, Agricultural Goods etc.

A Caution
Complex Material
These ideas are complex, and presented here simply to demonstrate the rigor behind the computed values
Only the main points will be made in this presentation we will leave time for more detailed questions

Emergy of Global Processes

The solar emergy equivalents of tidal energy and deep earth heat are estimated by assuming two inputs making the same product as equivalent. Three main emergy inputs to the geobiosphere are the solar energy, the tidal energy, and the deep earth heat. An emergy equation was written for the joint contributions of these inputs to crustal heat and another for the joint contributions to the geopotential energy of ocean water. With the transformity of solar equal one, by definition, the two equations are used to evaluate transformities of global tidal energy and global deep heat contribution.

Emergy of Global Processes

CONCEPT: Calculation of the transformities of earths deep heat and tidal momentum using simultaneous equations and setting two inputs making the same product as equivalent PRINCIPLE:

Emergy equations set the empower of inputs into an energy transformation process equal to the empower of an output, where each term contains a flow multiplied by its emergy/unit.

(Energy A * Tr A) + (Energy B * Tr B) = (Energy C * Tr C)

Emergy of Heat in the Crust

Emergy of Global Processes

Pictured below are the main processes contributing 13.21 E20 J/yr heat to the earth's crust as given by Sclater et al. (1980). By subtracting the estimate for radioactivity generation (1.98 E20 J/yr) and heat flux up from the mantle (4.74 E20 J/yr), the remaining annual flow of 6.49 E20 joules per year can be attributed to the tidal and solar sources from above
4.74 1.98 6.49 13.21

These sources (sun and tide) drive the atmosphere, ocean, hydrological, and sedimentary cycles and contribute heat downward by burying oxidized and reduced substances together, by friction, and by compressing sedimentary deposits

Emergy of Global Processes Emergy of Heat in the Crust

Solar emergy + Tidal emergy = Emergy of heat generated by surface processes

(39,300 E20 J/yr)(1 sej/J) + (0.52 E20 J/yr)*Trt = (6.49 E20) *Trh

(Equation 1)

Emergy of Global Processes Emergy of Tidal Energy Inflow and Use

Tidal energy is contributed to the geo-biosphere by the gravitational forces of moon and sun that pull air, earth, and especially the ocean, relative to the rotating planet, causing friction and heat dissipation.
4.74 +1.98 6.72

In this figure, the emergy budget equation for oceanic geo-potential energy includes solar emergy, tidal emergy, and the contribution of the earth to the global process.

2.14

The earth contributes with 6.72 E20 J/yr (4.74 E20 J/yr deep heat and 1.98 E20 J/yr radioactive heat).

0.52 +1.62 2.14

Emergy of Global Processes Emergy of Tidal Energy Inflow and Use

Solar emergy + Tidal emergy + Deep Earth = Oceanic geopotential emergy emergy

(39,3 E20)*1.0 + (0.52 E20)*Trt + (6.72 E20)*Trh = (2.14 E20)*Trt

(Equation 2)
0.52 +1.62 2.14

Combining Equations

Emergy of Global Processes

To obtain the unit emergy values (solar transformities), equation (1) was subtracted from equation (2) to obtain:

(6.72 E20)*Trh = (2.14 E20) *Trt - (6.49 E20) Trh

From this, the a preliminary solar transformity for tide was found to be

Trt = 6.17 Trh

which was substituted in eq. 1 to obtain the solar transformity of crustal heat:

Trh = 11,981 sej/J

and the solar transformity of tide:

Trt = 6.17*11,945 = 73,923 sej/J

(39,300 E20)(1.0) + (0.52 E20)*Trt - (6.49 E20) *Trh =0 -(39,300 E20)(1.0) - (0.52 E20)*Trt - (6.72 E20)*Trh + (2.14 E20)*Trt =0 -6.49 E20*Trh - 6.72 E20 Trh +2.14 E20 *Trt = 0 Trt = 6.17*Trh

Emergy of Global Processes

Transformities of renewable inputs to the geobiosphere are summarized below(phew!)
Table 1. Emergy of Inputs to the Geobiosphere ____________________________________________________________ Note Inflow Solar Transformity Empower sej/J 1024 sej/yr ____________________________________________________________ 1 Solar energy absorbed 1 3.93 2 3 Crustal heat sources Tidal energy absorbed Total Global Empower 1.20 x 104 7.37 x 104 -8.06 3.83 15.83

Empower Supporting the Geobiosphere

3.83

8.06

34.3 3.93

x E24 sej/yr.

Empower Supporting the Geobiosphere

Table 3. Annual Emergy Contributions to Global Processes Including Use of Resource Reserves (after Brown and Ulgiati, 1999) ____________________________________________________________________ Note Inputs & Units Inflow Emergy/Unit* Empower (J/yr) (sej/unit) E24 sej/yr
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

1 Renewable inputs --

--

15.8

Non renewable energies released by society: 2 Oil, J 1.38 E20 9.06 E4 12.5 3 Natural gas (oil eq.), J 7.89 E19 8.05 E4 6.4 4 Coal (oil eq.), J 1.09 E20 6.71 E4 7.3 5 Nuclear power, J 8.60 E18 3.35 E5 2.9 6 Wood, J 5.86 E19 1.84 E4 1.1 7 Soils, J 1.38 E19 1.24 E5 1.7 8 Phosphate, J 4.77 E16 1.29 E7 0.6 9 Limestone, J 7.33 E16 2.72 E6 0.2 10 Metal ores, g 9.93 E14 1.68 E9 1.7 __________________________________________________________________ Total non-renewable empower 34.3

Total global empower

50.1

Global Emergy Intensities

Table 2. Emergy of Products of the Global Energy System (Odum et. al 2000)
____________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________

Note 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

Product

Units J J 15.83 g 15.83 J 15.83 g 15.83 J 15.83 J 15.83 J 15.83 J 15.83

Emergy* Production E24 sej/yr units/yr

Emergy/Unit sej/unit

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Global latent heat, Global wind circulation, Global precipitation on land, Global precipitation on land, Average river flow, Average river geopotential, Average river chem. energy, Average waves at the shore, Average ocean current,

15.83 1.26 E24 12.6 sej/J 6.45 E21 2.5 E3 sej/J 1.09 E20 1.5 E5 sej/g 5.19 E20 3.1 E4 sej/J 3.96 E19 4.0 E5 sej/g 3.4 E20 4.7 E4 sej/J 1.96 E20 8.1 E4 sej/J 3.1 E20 5.1 E4 sej/J 8.6 E17 1.8 E7 sej/J

Emergy of Products of the Global Energy System

Emergy of Global Processes

In the following table, emergy values for some main flows of the earth are calculated by dividing the total solar emergy input (15.83 E24 sej/yr) by each product's ordinary measure (number of joules, grams, dollars, individuals, etc.). Emergy of Products of the Global Energy System
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Product and Units

Emergy* Production E24 sej/yr units/yr

Emergy/Unit sej/unit

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Global latent heat, J Global wind circulation, J Global precipitation on land, g Global precipitation on land, J Average river flow, g Average river geopotential, J Average river chem. energy, J15.83 Average waves at the shore, J Average ocean current, J

15.83 1.26 E24 12.6 sej/J 15.83 6.45 E21 2.45 E3 sej/J 15.83 1.09 E20 1.45 E5 sej/g 15.83 5.19 E20 3.1 E4 sej/J 15.83 3.96 E19 4.0 E5 sej/g 15.83 3.4 E20 4.7 E4 sej/J 1.96 E20 8.1 E4 sej/J 15.83 3.1 E20 5.1 E4 sej/J 15.83 8.6 E17 1.84 E7 sej/J

Emergy of Atmospheric Circulation

Emergy of Global Processes

Many small circulation cells of the atmosphere converge and transform their energy into larger scale storms. These converge, concentrate, and transform into even larger circulation units that last longer and impact more. And so on

Energetics of Atmospheric Circulation Units

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Circulation Unit

Kinetic Energy Flow Transformity J/yr sej/J 9.3 E23 2.33 E21 9.45 E21 1.73 E22 4.9 E21 6.1 E20 1.61 E22 6.4 E21 3.7 E21 1.61 E21 12 192 485 912 3230 6487 983 2473 4278 9832

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Over ocean circulation Latent heat into air Kinetic energy used Cumulus land circulation Meso-systems Temperate cyclones Hurricanes Hemisphere general circulation Surface winds Average circulation Tropical jets Polar jet

Emergy of Rain with Altitude

Emergy of Global Processes

Precipitation varies with altitude, is affected by mountains, and depends on the weather systems in complex ways. To estimate global emergy per unit rainfall with altitude, the percent of global rainfall at each altitude was assumed to be proportional to the percent of surface latent heat flux reaching that altitude

Evaluation of Continental Rainfall with Altitude ______________________________________________________________ Note Level Emergy Rain# Emergy/Mass Transformity m E24 sej/yr E20g/yr E4 sej/g E4 sej/J ______________________________________________________________ 1 Surface 15.83 1.09 14.5 2.9 2 990 15.83 0.63 25.1 5.0 3 1950 15.83 0.53 29.9 6.0 4 3010 15.83 0.31 50.3 10.0 5 4200 15.83 0.12 131.0 26.1 6 5570 15.83 0.08 198.0 39.5 7 7180 15.83 0.05 315.0 63.1

Emergy of Ocean Circulation

Emergy of Global Processes

The circulation of the oceans is a major part of the geobiosphere. Like the atmosphere, it forms a hierarchy of circulation units. Most of the energy is in small scale circulation at the ocean surface. Less energy and higher transformities are in mesoscale gyrals (medium scale eddies in coastal waters and eddies from jets). Large scale general ocean circulation has highest transformities, with less energy overall, especially as emergy is converged in jets like the gulf stream.

Energetics of Ocean Circulation

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Circulation Unit Surface eddies, J Mesoscale gyrals, J Sea Ice, g Sea ice, J Ocean circulation, J Jet currents, J

Annual Energy Transformity J/yr sej/unit 3.0 x 1020 1.78 x 1019 3 x 1019 9.0 x 1019 8.5 x 1017 1.67 x 1017 5.3 x 104 sej/J 8.9 x 104 sej/J 5.3 x 105 sej/g 1.76 x 105 sej/J 1.87 x 107 sej/J 9.4 x 107 sej/J

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Emergy of Main Features of the Land

Emergy of Global Processes

After several billion years of development, the land of the geobiosphere has been self organized into a hierarchy of components and cycles on many scales. Circulation of the land is driven by the atmosphere, ocean, hydrological cycle, and deep convection of the hot mantle below.

Emergy of Continental Parts of the Global Energy System

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________

Component and Units Earth heat flux, J Glaciers, mass, g crystal heat, J geopotential, J available heat, J Land area sustained, ha Land, global cycle, g Continental sediment, g Volcanoes, g Mountains, g Cratons, g

Emergy* Production E24 sej/yr Units/yr 15.83 15.83 15.83 15.83 15.83 15.83 15.83 15.83 15.83 15.83 15.83 2.74 E20 2.48 E18 8.3 E20 2.11 E19 1.38 E19 1.5 E10 9.36 E15 7.4 E15 3.05 E15 2.46 E15 0.81 E15

Emergy/Unit sej/unit 5.8 E4 sej/J 6.4 E6 sej/g 1.91 E4 sej/J 7.5 E5 sej/J 1.14 E6 sej/J 1.05 E15 sej/ha 1.69 E9 sej/g 2.13 E9 sej/g 3.8 E9 sej/g 6.43 E9 sej/g 19.5 E9 sej/g

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Emergy of Global Processes

Emergy and the Spatial Organization of the Land

The spatial organization of earth processes results in large differences in rates of earth cycle, energy flux, and unit emergy between the high energy mountain centers and the broad low plains in between.
The larger scale features have longer turnover times, mass storages, and unit emergy values.

Emergy and the Spatial Organization of the Land

Emergy of Global Processes

Land area from the earth's hypsographic curve (area of land versus altitude) is multiplied by the erosion rate from the previous Figure to obtain the areal distribution of earth cycling. The mass flow at each level is related to the whole earth emergy to obtain the emergy per mass with altitude. These unit emergy values are appropriate for evaluating sediments generated in the earth cycle.

Annual Emergy Contributions to Elevated Lands*

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Altitude Area km 1012 m2

0 1 2 3 4 5 148.1 42.3 19.7 8.5 2.7 0.5

Erosion Rate Mass Upflow 103 g/m2/yr 1015 g/yr

-0.15 0.29 0.44 0.60 0.76 9.36 6.34 5.71 3.74 1.62 0.38

Emergy/mass 109 sej/g

1.7 2.5 2.8 4.2 9.8 41.6

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Emergy of Rocks

Emergy of Global Processes

The self organizational processes of the earth circulation generate many kinds of rock. Sediments become cemented, reefs are generated by eco-systems, sedimentary rocks are metamorphosed, etc.
Emergy of Sediments and Rocks
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Component and Units

Emergy* E24 sej/yr

Production E15 g/yr 9.36 0.4-9.4 9.7 E15 3.9 E15 1.87 E15 1.68 E15 0.094 63.4

Emergy/Unit E9 sej/g 1.69 1.7-42 1.63 4.1 8.5 9.5 169.0 0.25

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________

Global land cycle, g 15.83 Continental sediment, g 15.83 Pelagic-abyssal sediment, g 15.83 Shale 15.83 Sandstone 15.83 Limestone 15.83 Evaporites 15.83 Oceanic basalt, g 15.83

Emergy Intensities
Table 3. Solar transformities of selected fuels and biofuels. (values also include the emergy associated to labor and services) Fuel Transformity (sej/J) 6.70E+04 8.04E+04 9.05E+04 1.11E+05 1.39E+05 1.93E+05 4.04E+05 2.66E+05 1.89E+05 1.86E+05 - 3.15E+05 2.31E+05 1.10E+05 - 1.12E+05 2.18E+05-2.68E+05 3.35E+05-3.54E+05 Reference

Coal Natural Gas Crude oil Refined fuels (gasoline, diesel, etc) Hydrogen from water electrolysis () Hydrogen from steam reforming of natural gas Hydrogen from water electrolysis (*) Methanol from wood Bioethanol from corn Ethanol from sugarcane Biodiesel Electricity from renewables () Electricity from fuel cells Electricity from thermal plants (#)

Odum et al., 2000 Odum et al., 2000 Odum et al., 2000 Odum et al., 2000 Brown and Ulgiati, 2004 Raugei et al, 2005 Brown and Ulgiati, 2004 Giampietro & Ulgiati, 2005 Giampietro & Ulgiati, 2005 Ulgiati, 1997 Giampietro & Ulgiati, 2005 Brown and Ulgiati, 2004 Raugei et al, 2005 Brown and Ulgiati, 2004

Emergy Intensities
Table 5. Emergy intensities for some common products (after Odum, 1996) Item Transformity (Sej/J) Corn stalks 6.6 E4 1 Rice, high energy 7.4 E4 Cotton 1.4 E5 2 Sugar (sugar cane) 1.5 E5 Corn 1.6 E5 Butter 2.2 E6 Ammonia fertilizer 3.1 E6 Mutton 5.7 E6 Silk 6.7 E6 Wool 7.4 E6 Phosphate fertilizer 1.7 E7 Shrimp (aquaculture) 2.2 E7 2 Steel 8.7 E7 1. After Brown and McKlanahan, (1996) 2. After Odum and Odum (1983) Specific Emergy (Sej/g) 1.4 E9

2.4 E9

7.8 E9

Emergy Flow Supporting the Geo-Biosphere

Table 1. Annual Emergy Contributions to Global Processes* (after Odum et al. 2000)
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Note Input 1 2 3 4 Solar insolation, Deep earth heat, Tidal energy, Total

Units Inflow Emergy/Unit Empower units/yr sej/unit (E24 sej/yr) J J J 3.93 E24 6.72 E20 0.52 E20 1.0 1.20 E4 7.39 E4 3.93 8.06 3.84 15.83

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Emergy Flow Supporting the Geo-Biosphere

Table 3. Annual Emergy Contributions to Global Processes Including Use of Resource Reserves (after Brown and Ulgiati, 1999) ________________________________________________________________________ Note Inputs & Units Inflow Emergy/Unit* Empower (J/yr) (sej/unit) E24 sej/yr ________________________________________________________________________ 1 Renewable inputs --15.8 Non-renewable energies released by society: 2 Oil, J 1.38 E20 9.06 E4 12.5 3 Natural gas (oil eq.), J 7.89 E19 8.05 E4 6.4 4 Coal (oil eq.), J 1.09 E20 6.71 E4 7.3 5 Nuclear power, J 8.60 E18 3.35 E5 2.9 6 Wood, J 5.86 E19 1.84 E4 1.1 7 Soils, J 1.38 E19 1.24 E5 1.78 8 Phosphate, J 4.77 E16 1.29 E7 0.6 9 Limestone, J 7.33 E16 2.72 E6 0.2 10 Metal ores, g 9.93 E14 1.68 E9 1.7 Total non-renewable empower 34.3 Total global empower 50.1

Global Emergy Intensities

Table 2. Emergy of Products of the Global Energy System (after Odum et. al 2000) _____________________________________________________________________ Note Product Units Emergy* Production Emergy/Unit E24 sej/yr units/yr sej/unit _____________________________________________________________________ 1 Global latent heat, J 15.83 1.26 E24 12.6 sej/J 2 Global wind circulation, J 15.83 6.45 E21 2.5 E3 sej/J 3 Global precipitation on land, g 15.83 1.09 E20 1.5 E5 sej/g 4 Global precipitation on land, J 15.83 5.19 E20 3.1 E4 sej/J 5 Average river flow, g 15.83 3.96 E19 4.0 E5 sej/g 6 Average river geopotential, J 15.83 3.4 E20 4.7 E4 sej/J 7 Average river chem. energy, J 15.83 1.96 E20 8.1 E4 sej/J 8 Average waves at the shore, J 15.83 3.1 E20 5.1 E4 sej/J 9 Average ocean current, J 15.83 8.6 E17 1.8 E7 sej/J

Regional Emergy Intensities

Table 3. Solar transformities of selected fuels and biofuels. (values also include the emergy associated to labor and services) Fuel Transformity (sej/J) 6.70E+04 8.04E+04 9.05E+04 1.11E+05 1.39E+05 1.93E+05 4.04E+05 2.66E+05 1.89E+05 1.86E+05 - 3.15E+05 2.31E+05 1.10E+05 - 1.12E+05 2.18E+05-2.68E+05 3.35E+05-3.54E+05 Reference

Coal Natural Gas Crude oil Refined fuels (gasoline, diesel, etc) Hydrogen from water electrolysis () Hydrogen from steam reforming of natural gas Hydrogen from water electrolysis (*) Methanol from wood Bioethanol from corn Ethanol from sugarcane Biodiesel Electricity from renewables () Electricity from fuel cells Electricity from thermal plants (#)

Odum et al., 2000 Odum et al., 2000 Odum et al., 2000 Odum et al., 2000 Brown and Ulgiati, 2004 Raugei et al, 2005 Brown and Ulgiati, 2004 Giampietro & Ulgiati, 2005 Giampietro & Ulgiati, 2005 Ulgiati, 1997 Giampietro & Ulgiati, 2005 Brown and Ulgiati, 2004 Raugei et al, 2005 Brown and Ulgiati, 2004

Agricultural Emergy Intensities

Table 5. Emergy intensities for some common products (after Odum, 1996) Item Transformity (Sej/J) Corn stalks 6.6 E4 1 Rice, high energy 7.4 E4 Cotton 1.4 E5 2 Sugar (sugar cane) 1.5 E5 Corn 1.6 E5 Butter 2.2 E6 Ammonia fertilizer 3.1 E6 Mutton 5.7 E6 Silk 6.7 E6 Wool 7.4 E6 Phosphate fertilizer 1.7 E7 Shrimp (aquaculture) 2.2 E7 2 Steel 8.7 E7 1. After Brown and McKlanahan, (1996) 2. After Odum and Odum (1983) Specific Emergy (Sej/g) 1.4 E9

2.4 E9

7.8 E9

What Now?
Weve estimated Natures work in primary processes
Rainfall, Wind, Tides/Waves, Soils, Rocks, etc.

Now we can compile these values to study secondary processes

Agriculture, Forestry, Fisheries, etc.

Knowing Natures work and studying embodied work in secondary processes is used for policy analysis

Environmental Accounting of Sahelian Agroecosystems

Identify systems
Agroforestry, Rotating rangeland, Conventional cropping

Identify resource basis and yields

Climate, soil, purchased goods/services, yields, changes in internal stocks (e.g. SOM)

Synthesize information into Env. Acct. tables

Use previously computed transformities Assess sensitivity to transformities Determine if local values are needed

Next
Practical applications
Emergy analysis of states and nations Environmental Impact Assessment
Soil Erosion Water Supply Recycling