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A Thermodynamic Geography: Night-Time Satellite Imagery as a Proxy Measure of Emergy |
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| Authors: | Luca Coscieme Federico M. Pulselli Simone Bastianoni Christopher D. Elvidge Sharolyn Anderson Paul C. Sutton |
| Affiliation: | 1. Ecodynamics Group, DEEPS Department of Earth Environmental and Physical Sciences, University of Siena, Pian dei Mantellini 44, 53100, Siena, Italy 3. School of Natural and Built Environments, Barbara Hardy Institute, University of South Australia, Mawson Lakes Campus, Adelaide, SA, 5095, Australia 2. Earth Observation Group, NOAA National Geophysical Data Center, 325 Broadway, Boulder, CO, 80305, USA 4. Department of Geography, University of Denver, 2199 S. University Blvd, Denver, CO, 80208, USA |
| Abstract: | Night-time satellite imagery enables the measurement, visualization, and mapping of energy consumption in an area. In this paper, an index of the “sum of lights” as observed by night-time satellite imagery within national boundaries is compared with the emergy of the nations. Emergy is a measure of the solar energy equivalent used, directly or indirectly, to support the processes that characterize the economic activity in a country. Emergy has renewable and non-renewable components. Our results show that the non-renewable component of national emergy use is positively correlated with night-time satellite imagery. This relationship can be used to produce emergy density maps which enable the incorporation of spatially explicit representations of emergy in geographic information systems. The region of Abruzzo (Italy) is used to demonstrate this relationship as a spatially disaggregate case. |
| Keywords: | Emergy Night-time lights Geographic information systems Territorial systems Thermodynamic geography |
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