Updated evaluation of exergy and emergy driving the geobiosphere: A review and refinement of the emergy baseline

Crucial to the method of emergy synthesis are the main driving emergy flows of the geobiosphere to which all other flows are referenced. They form the baseline for the construction of tables of Unit Emergy Values (UEVs) to be used in emergy evaluations. We provide here an updated calculation of the geobiosphere emergy baseline and UEVs for tidal and geothermal flows. First, we recalculate the flows using more recent values that have resulted from satellite measurements and generally better measurement techniques. Second, we have recalculated these global flows according to their available energy content (exergy) in order to be consistent with Odum's (1996) definition of emergy. Finally, we have reinterpreted the interaction of geothermal energy with biosphere processes thus changing the relationship between geothermal energy and the emergy baseline. In this analysis we also acknowledge the significant uncertainties related to most estimates of global data. In all, these modifications to the methodology have resulted in changes in the transformities for tidal momentum and geothermal energy and a minor change in the emergy baseline from 15.8E24 seJ/J to 15.2E24 seJ/J. As in all fields of science basic constants and standards are not really constant but change according to new knowledge. This is especially true of earth and ecological sciences where a large uncertainty is also to be found. As a consequence, while these are the most updated values today, they may change as better understanding is gained and uncertainties are reduced.     

国际能值研究热点和前沿的可视化分析

能值用以表征一种流动或储存的能量所包含另一类别能量的数量,即产品或者劳务形成过程中消耗的总能量,常以太阳能为度量标准。能值作为生态经济学中的新概念,它的提出实现了物质流、能量流、经济流、人口流和信息流等的统一量化,架设了“环境与经济间的桥梁”,能值理论和应用目前已成为生态经济学研究的热点领域,能值分析方法正日益发展成为生态经济系统评价的基本工具。文章首先以Web of Science数据库中1998─2013年间收录主题为“emergy”的文献为基础数据,对能值研究的学科、时间、区域和机构等分布情况进行了统计分析,发现能值研究文献数量呈逐年上升趋势,主要分布在生态、环境及能源相关学科,中、美、意大利3国及锡耶纳大学、北京师范大学、北京大学、中国科学院和佛罗里达大学等研究机构表现出较强的研究实力。其次,利用CiteSpace软件绘制了能值研究文献的共被引知识图谱,对其知识基础及核心作者的影响力进行了探讨。图谱研究显示,Odum H T、Brown M T、Hau J L、Ulgiati S等学者及其代表作品对能值理论知识基础的构建及相关研究的推进奠定了坚实的基础。最后,通过对能值研究领域出现关键词及膨胀词的共词分析与词频分析,绘制出能值领域的研究热点演进脉络,并探测环境可持续性、可持续发展、生态系统服务、电力生产、能值核算、生命周期研究法等前沿命题,可见系统可持续发展及能值与其它理论方法的结合应用将成为能值研究的新热点。目前能值研究文献数量持续增长,但其理论研究速度落后于应用范围及领域的延伸速度,能值转换率及评价指标体系已无法满足小区域、微观小系统的研究需求,核心作者及代表作品较少,且欠缺与动态模型及仿真技术的结合应用。因此,未来能值研究     

Emergy algebra: Improving matrix methods for calculating transformities

Transformity is one of the core concepts in Energy Systems Theory and it is fundamental to the calculation of emergy. Accurate evaluation of transformities and other emergy per unit values is essential for the broad acceptance, application and further development of emergy methods. Since the rules for the calculation of emergy are different from those for energy, particular calculation methods and models have been developed for use in the emergy analysis of networks, but double counting errors still occur because of errors in applying these rules when estimating the emergies of feedbacks and co-products. In this paper, configurations of network energy flows were classified into seven types based on commonly occurring combinations of feedbacks, splits, and co-products. A method of structuring the network equations for each type using the rules of emergy algebra, which we called “preconditioning” prior to calculating transformities, was developed to avoid double counting errors in determining the emergy basis for energy flows in the network. The results obtained from previous approaches, the Track Summing Method, the Minimum Eigenvalue Model and the Linear Optimization Model, were reviewed in detail by evaluating a hypothetical system, which included several types of interactions and two inputs. A Matrix Model was introduced to simplify the calculation of transformities and it was also tested using the same hypothetical system. In addition, the Matrix Model was applied to two real case studies, which previously had been analyzed using the existing method and models. Comparison of the three case studies showed that if the preconditioning step to structure the equations was missing, double counting would lead to large errors in the transformity estimates, up to 275 percent for complex flows with feedback and co-product interactions. After preconditioning, the same results were obtained from all methods and models. The Matrix Model reduces the complexity of the Track Summing Method for the analysis of complex systems, and offers a more direct and understandable link between the network diagram and the matrix algebra, compared with the Minimum Eigenvalue Model or the Linear Optimization Model.     

生态足迹与生态承载力动态变化研究——以辽宁省为例

利用生态足迹理论和计算方法、生态承载力分析方法分析了辽宁省1998--2007年十年期间的人均生态足迹和人均生态承载力变化过程。结果表明：辽宁省人均生态足迹由1998年的2．9187上升到2007年的4．3578,人均生态承载力由1998年的0．6676下降到2007年的0．6520,生态赤字逐年增加,生态系统处于人类过度开发利用状态之中;万元GDP生态足迹始终处于下降的趋势,表明辽宁省对区域生物生产面积利用效率逐年提高,但与全国平均水平相比还有提高的空间;从供需结构分析,辽宁省土地供给以耕地为主,但是从消费结构来看以化石燃料土地为主。     

南京市生态足迹实证分析

利用生态足迹的理论和计算方法,对南京市可持续发展状况及程度进行了评价和度量,利用南京市2001年至2003年的相关数据计算分析得出,南京市的人均生态承载力在逐年下降,人均生态足迹也有增加的趋势,尤其是能源消费生态足迹在近3年的生态足迹中仍然占有很大的比重,南京目前的经济发展是以消耗其他区域的自然资源和能源为基础的,其所面临的生态环境压力仍然很严重。     

生态足迹核算方法及其应用研究进展

近年来,生态足迹作为可持续发展的有效度量工具之一,获得了广泛关注。在参阅相关文献的基础上,系统总结了生态足迹核算方法及其应用特点和趋势,结果表明,（1）在核算方法上尚存争议,目前主要的核算方法有3种：传统土地足迹法;能值足迹法;投入产出足迹法。（2）从静态足迹核算朝时间序列足迹分析和动态情景足迹预测演化。（3）尽管在各个尺度上都有应用,但生态足迹目前仅被看作是交流工具,用于决策分析的意义不大。拓展其在企业及其产品系统的应用,将是其应用价值体现的一个突破口。（4）生态足迹作为一系列指标的一部分时,发挥作用更大。（5）生态足迹应加强与现有核算体系（如GDP）的衔接,增加其被决策者接纳的可能性。     

辽宁省能源足迹变动的分析

采用生态足迹模型与分解分析模型,定量核算了1990-2006年辽宁省能源足迹,分析了其变动趋势及其影响因素.结果表明,1990-2006年,辽宁省能源足迹呈不断增大趋势,总量由3508万hm~2增加到6491万hm~2,人均值则由0.896hm~2扩大到1.542 hm~2,增加了将近1倍,在区域生态压力中的贡献额为30%.在各类贡献因素中,经济发展对能源足迹的贡献远高于其他因素,其次为能源结构效应、人口规模效应,能源强度效应最低.虽然能源强度不断下降,但其对区域生态压力下降的贡献不足于抵消由能源结构不合理和消费水平的提高造成的生态影响,导致辽宁省能源足迹持续增加.     

基于生态足迹模型的贵州省生态可持续性动态分析

生态足迹是定量研究区域可持续发展的一种重要方法。运用生态足迹方法分析了贵州省1999—2008年生态足迹的动态变化,并利用生态足迹指数和生态足迹强度等指标对贵州省1999—2008年的生态可持续性进行了评估。结果表明：10年来,贵州省人均生态足迹由1999年的2.094 28 hm^2上升到2008年的3.613 48 hm^2;人均生物承载力由1999年的0.785 42 hm^2下降到2008年的0.734 81 hm^2;人均生态赤字由1999年的1.308 87 hm^2上升到2008年的2.878 68 hm^2;万元GDP生态足迹由1999年的8.287 91 hm^2下降到2008年的4.111 70 hm^2;生态足迹强度指数由1999年的2.666 46上升到2008年的4.917 61;生态足迹多样性呈现缓慢上升的趋势,社会发展指数总体呈逐年上升趋势;说明发展能力逐年提高,但这是以生态足迹增加为代价的。据此,提出减少了生态足迹和缓解生态环境压力的对策和建议。     

区域能源碳足迹计算模型比较研究——以湖北省为例

能源消费排放是最主要的碳排放来源,研究能源碳足迹重要理论和现实意义。如何准确计算和表征能源碳足迹的大小成为该研究领域的重要问题。在文献回顾的基础上,文章总结了3种目前应用较广泛的计算区域能源消费碳足迹的方法和模型,它们分别是碳汇法、净初级生产力改进模型和净生态系统生产力改进模型。分别介绍了其计算公式、输入参数和计算过程。以湖北省1998-2009年能源消费碳足迹的计算为例,分别用这几种方法计算了能源消费碳足迹的总量和人均碳足迹。得到的主要结论有：研究区域能源消费碳排放量增长较快,3种方法和模型计算得到的碳足迹总量和人均量从时间序列上看,整体变化趋势一致,碳足迹亦呈现快速增长。但3种模型计算出的碳足迹大小差异较大,碳汇法模型足迹最大,净生态系统生产力改进模型次之,净初级生产力改进模型结果最小,并且碳汇法的计算结果明显大于其他两种模型。计算结果差异的原因在于,传统碳汇法模型只考虑林地的碳吸收能力,忽略了区域其他用地类型的碳吸收能力。净初级生产力改进模型考虑了各种用地类型的吸收能力,但从生态系统来说忽略了异氧呼吸的碳释放,高估了区域的碳吸收能力。几种模型都运用了固定值或者平均统计量,未能考虑地域差异,同时未考虑各统计量随时间和气候等变化而变化的可能,存在一定的不合理性,这也是今后研究值得深人研究的方向。     

生草栽培对三种岭南水果种植系统的生态经济影响评价

综合运用能值、经济与土壤生态学分析方法,以传统清耕模式为对照,定量研究了生草栽培对荔枝(Litchi chinensis Sonn)、龙眼(Dimocarpus longan Lour)和番荔枝(Annona squamosa Linn)三种岭南水果种植系统的生态经济影响。整合系统物质流、能量流和货币流,综合分析其自然资源基础、经济发展状况及可持续发展程度,并将土壤有机质的消耗纳入不可更新自然资源能值投入分析,为岭南水果业生草栽培与否提供科学依据。结果表明,生草栽培可以将荔枝和龙眼种植系统的能值可持续性从传统清耕模式的0.16和0.46分别提升到0.17和0.47;而使番荔枝种植系统的能值可持续性从传统清耕模式的0.59降至0.45。同时,生草栽培可提高荔枝和番荔枝种植系统的经济效益,而降低龙眼种植系统的经济效益。所有案例结果均表明,生草栽培可降低果园土壤有机质的消耗。     

湖南省生态足迹与生态承载力的动态变化分析

生态足迹是定量研究区域可持续发展的一种重要方法。为了定量评价湖南省可持续发展程度的动态变化,利用生态足迹理论,计算分析了湖南省1998--2006年间的生态足迹变化过程。结果表明,湖南省人均生态足迹由1998年的1．2441hm。上升至2006年的1．6377hm^2;人均生态承载力由1998年的0．4819hm^2减少为2006年的0．4556hm^2,人均生态赤字由1998年的0．7622hm0上升到2006年的1．1821hm0。生态赤字逐年提高,生态足迹与生态承载力之间的矛盾加剧,区域生态环境处于不安全状态。生态足迹供需结构分析表明,湖南省人均生态足迹供需存在严重的不平衡,其需求以草地、耕地是构成湖南省人均生态足迹的主要组成部分,分别占人均生态足迹的30．11％～37．34％以及29．83％-33．53％,其次是化石能源地（17．60％～22．85％）。而供给以耕地为主,占人均生态承载力的51．02％～53．23％。研究期间万元GDP生态足迹总体上呈下降趋势,表明湖南省的资源利用率不断提高。同时根据生态盈亏的影响因素,并结合湖南省经济发展现状和资源分布特点,探讨了降低和消除区域生态赤字的措施建议。     

生草栽培对三种岭南水果种植系统的生态经济影响评价

综合运用能值、经济与土壤生态学分析方法,以传统清耕模式为对照,定量研究了生草栽培对荔枝（LitchichinensisSonn）、龙眼（DimocarpuslonganLour）和番荔枝（AnnonasquamosaLinn）三种岭南水果种植系统的生态经济影响。整合系统物质流、能量流和货币流,综合分析其自然资源基础、经济发展状况及可持续发展程度,并将土壤有机质的消耗纳入不可更新自然资源能值投入分析,为岭南水果业生草栽培与否提供科学依据。结果表明,生草栽培可以将荔枝和龙眼种植系统的能值可持续性从传统清耕模式的0．16和0．46分别提升到0．17和0．47;而使番荔枝种植系统的能值可持续性从传统清耕模式的0．59降至0．45。同时,生草栽培可提高荔枝和番荔枝种植系统的经济效益,而降低龙眼种植系统的经济效益。所有案例结果均表明,生草栽培可降低果园土壤有机质的消耗。     

基于生态足迹模型的区域可持续发展定量评估——以东江流域东源县为例

可持续发展定量评价方法研究是当前可持续发展研究的前沿和热点.生态足迹分析模型是通过对区域人口对自然利用程度的测度,确定区域的发展是否处于生态承载力范围之内.运用生态足迹理论和计算方法,采用2004-2007年东源县统计年鉴、历年年初土地面积、2002世界粮农组织(FAO)和世界自然基金会(WWF)的相关数据,对重点饮用水源地--东源县14 a(1994-2007年)来人均生态足迹和人均生态承载力进行实证计算和分析.结果表明:2007年的东源县人均生态足迹需求为0.856 1 hm~2·cap~(-1),而实际人均生态空间面积(均衡承载力面积)为1.641 8 hm~2·cap~(-1),人均生态盈余为0.588 7hm~2·cap~(-1).14 a来东源县的生态承载力总体上几乎都是大于生态需求(除了1995年、1996年生态需求略大于生态供给外),处于生态盈余状态且生态盈余呈现稳中增长的趋势,区域生态系统处于一种相对可持续状态.其中,林地生态承载量最大,生态盈余最多,呈现逐年减少的态势;耕地生态承载量次之,生态足迹最大,生态赤字大,生态压力严重;水域和草地的生态压力逐年增大.     

北京城市生态系统的能值动态分析

采用能值理论与分析方法,对北京市1990~2001年间的能值结构动态进行了分析,并采用人均能值、能值密度、生态功能潜力、人口基本承载力、能值自给率、能值货币比率、环境负载率、输入能值比等重要能值指标对该时期北京市城市生态系统的能值状况作了详细分析。研究表明,北京城市生态系统正处于较高发展水平,已基本跨入发达国家水平的行列;但高强度、快速发展给本市带来了巨大的生态环境压力,未来北京的可持续能力建设已势在必行。文章也提出了北京城市生态系统可持续发展能力建设的基本方向。     

华北平原集约农区种植业生态经济系统的能值分析——以河北沧州为例

从能值的角度出发,以华北平原代表区域——河北省沧州地区2003年统计数据和调查数据为基础,对该地区种植业生态经济系统的能值投入和产出进行首次分析。结果显示:该地区不可更新的工业辅助能占总能值投入的78.5%,可更新的能值投入仅占21.4%(可更新环境资源8.79%、可更新有机12.68%),说明农业生产过渡依赖于外源不可更新辅助能的投入;此外,高系统太阳能值转换率、低净能值产出率和高环境负荷率的特点,表明该地区种植业的科技发展水平比较高,对环境的压力相当大。综合结果说明种植业系统对环境资源的过度利用必然会引起生态环境的破坏。基于此,提出华北平原集约农区种植业生态经济系统可持续发展对策:以优化施肥为基础,合理减少化肥投入为代表,适当降低工业辅助能投入;调整农业增产投入战略,努力解决该地区以水资源短缺为主的作物增产限制因子;改变农业生产中有机能值与无机能值的投入比例,降低系统环境负荷率。     

Methods for estimating the uncertainty in emergy table-form models

Emergy studies have suffered criticism due to the lack of uncertainty analysis and this shortcoming may have directly hindered the wider application and acceptance of this methodology. Recently, to fill this gap, the sources of uncertainty in emergy analysis were described and analytical and stochastic methods were put forward to estimate the uncertainty in unit emergy values (UEVs). However, the most common method used to determine UEVs is the emergy table-form model, and only a stochastic method (i.e., the Monte Carlo method) was provided to estimate the uncertainty of values calculated in this way. To simplify the determination of uncertainties in emergy analysis using table-form calculations, we introduced two analytical methods provided by the Guide to the Expression of Uncertainty in Measurement (GUM), i.e., the Variance method and the Taylor method, to estimate the uncertainty of emergy table-form calculations for two different types of data, and compared them with the stochastic method in two case studies. The results showed that, when replicate data are available at the system level, i.e., the same data on inputs and output are measured repeatedly in several independent systems, the Variance method is the simplest and most reliable method for determining the uncertainty of the model output, since it considers the underlying covariance of the inputs and requires no assumptions about the probability distributions of the inputs. However, when replicate data are only available at the subsystem level, i.e., repeat samples are measured on subsystems without specific correspondence between an output and a certain suite of inputs, the Taylor method will be a better option for calculating uncertainty, since it requires less information and is easier to understand and perform than the Monte Carlo method.     

Evaluation of urban metabolism based on emergy synthesis: A case study for Beijing (China)

Cities (“urban superorganisms”) exhibit metabolic processes. Disturbance of these processes results from the high throughput of the socioeconomic system as a result of the flow of resources between it and its surroundings. Based on systematic ecology and emergy synthesis, we developed an emergy-based indicator system for evaluating urban metabolic factors (flux, structures, intensity, efficiency, and density), and evaluated the status of Beijing's environment and economic development by diagramming, accounting for, and analyzing the material, energy, and monetary flows within Beijing's metabolic system using biophysically based ecological accounting. We also compared the results with those of four other Chinese cities (Shanghai, Guangzhou, Ningbo, and Baotou) and China as a whole to assess Beijing's development status. From 1990 to 2004, Beijing's metabolic flux, metabolic intensity, and metabolic density increased significantly. The city's metabolic processes depend excessively on nonrenewable resources, but the pressure on resources from outside of the city decreased continuously. The metabolic efficiency increased by around 12% annually throughout the study period. Beijing had a highest metabolic fluxes and density compared with the four other cities; its metabolic efficiency was lower, and its metabolic intensity was higher. Evaluating these metabolic indicators revealed weaknesses in the urban metabolic system, thereby helping planners to identify measures capable of sustaining these urban metabolic processes.     

Recycling flows in emergy evaluation: A mathematical paradox?

This paper is a contribution to the emergy evaluation of systems involving recycling or reuse of waste. If waste exergy (its residual usefulness) is not negligible, wastes could serve as input to another process or be recycled. In cases of continuous waste recycle or reuse, what then is the role of emergy? Emergy is carried by matter and its value is shown to be the product of specific energy with mass flow rate and its transformity. This transformity (τ) given as the ratio of the total emergy input and the useful available energy in the product (exergy) is commonly calculated over a specific period of time (usually yearly) which makes transformity a time dependent factor. Assuming a process in which a part of the non-renewable input is an output (waste) from a previous system, for the waste to be reused, an emergy investment is needed. The transformity of the reused or recycled material should be calculated based on the pathway of the reused material at a certain time (T) which results in a specific transformity value (τ). In case of a second recycle of the same material that had undergone the previous recycle, the material pathway has a new time (T + T₁) which results in a transformity value (τ₁). Recycling flows as in the case of feedback is a dynamic process and as such the process introduces its own time period depending on its pathway which has to be considered in emergy evaluations. Through the inspiration of previous emergy studies, authors have tried to develop formulae which could be used in such cases of continuous recycling of material in this paper. The developed approach is then applied to a case study to give the reader a better understanding of the concept. As a result, a ‘factor’ is introduced which could be included on emergy evaluation tables to account for subsequent transformity changes in multiple recycling. This factor can be used to solve the difficulties in evaluating aggregated systems, serve as a correction factor to up-level such models keeping the correct evaluation and also solve problems of memory loss in emergy evaluation. The discussion deals with the questions; is it a pure mathematical paradox in the rules of emergy? Is it consistent with previous work? What were the previous solutions to avoid the cumulative problem in a reuse? What are the consequences?     

基于净初级生产力的生态足迹模型及其与传统模型的对比分析

生态足迹模型因其可以定量度量生态可持续发展、计算简单、结论易懂、全球可比等特点,提出之后得到了大量的关注和应用,同时也面临着一些质疑和争论。文章介绍了一种基于净初级生产力的生态足迹理论和计算方法,并以该方法和传统生态足迹模型分别计算了中国1961—2007年的生态足迹,对计算结果进行了对比分析。结果表明,两种生态足迹模型的计算结果具有较高的相关性,表明基于净初级生产力的生态足迹模型结果可信。该种方法能够克服传统生态足迹模型的部分缺陷,在均衡因子选取、土地生态功能假设、CO2吸收等方面有了较大改进,能够较好地反映不同生态系统在生产力上的差异;在时间序列分析方面也更加合理。但该方法本身同时存在着计算方法不完善、对生态系统变化不敏感等问题,如何更紧密地结合生态足迹和净初级生产力是需要进一步研究的内容。     

1995-2004年河北省生态足迹分析与生态恢复措施

生态足迹从具体的生物物理量角度研究自然资本消费的空间,为核算地区自然资本利用状况提供简明框架,进而可判断区域可持续发展状态。河北省正大力实施可持续发展战略,但在绿色战略问题上还面临一些难题。文章利用生态足迹模型,对河北省1995—2004年的生态足迹进行了时间序列的测度以及可持续发展的定量测算,根据计算结果进行分析提出相应对策。结果表明,10年间河北省的人均生态足迹增长率达47.9%,赤字增长率达58.5%,人类负荷超过其生态容量,生态承载力严重不能满足生态足迹的需求,区域的经济社会发展处于一种不可持续的发展状。从而加深了对河北省可持续发展状况的认识,对生态建设决策提供科学依据,并提出河北省生态恢复的措施。