Emergy and Environmental Impact Assessment

Emergy & Complex Systems
Day 4, Lecture 8….
Emergy and
Environmental Impact Assessment
Oil spill, phosphate mining, transformity and

toxicity, transformity and ecosystem health
Environmental
Environmental Impacts
Impacts on
on
Terrestrial
Terrestrial Ecosystems...
Ecosystems...
Environmental
Environmental Impacts
Impacts on
on
Marine
Marine Ecosystems...
Ecosystems...
Emergy
Emergy Ratios
Ratios for
for
Assessing
Assessing Environmental
Environmental
Impact
Impact
F Purcha s e d Re s ource s
Local Non-
re ne wable Se rvic e s
s ource s
N
Lo ca l
R Y Yie ld
Re ne wa b le Environm e nt al Econo mic
Source s Sys t e m s Us e
Yie ld ( Y) = R+N+F
%Re ne w = R/ ( R+N+F)
No nre ne wa b le t o Re ne wa b le Rat io = (N+F) / R
Eme rg y Yie ld Rat io = Y/ F
Eme rg y Inve s t m e nt Rat io = F/ ( R+N)
Enviro nm e nt a l Lo a ding Ra t io = ( F+N) / R
Comparison
Comparison of
of
Development
Development Alternatives
Alternatives
Imports
from Main
Economy
F1
F2
F2 P3
R3 Alternate
P2
R2 New Use
Env
R
Source Original Use P1
R1
to be
diverted
R1 *ELR
R1 P4
Potential
Emergy Evaluation of
Exxon Valdez Oil Spill
On March 24, 1989, the Exxon Valdez grounded on Bligh

Reef, and spilled nearly 11 million gallons of oil into the
biologically rich waters of Prince William Sound.
Map
Map of
of Alaska
Alaska showing
showing the the
Trans-Alaska pipeline...
Trans-Alaska pipeline ...
Map
Map showing
showing the the extent
extent of
of the
the
oil
oil spill
spill in
in Gulf
Gulf of Alaska...
of Alaska ...
Two
Two estimates
estimates of
of damages
damages
resulting
resulting from
from the
the oil spill...
oil spill ...
Percent of the total losses

Distribution
Distribution of
of the
the loss
loss
estimates...
estimates ...
Oil
Oil spill
spill losses
losses compared
compared to
to
regional
regional emergy
emergy budgets...
budgets...
Net
Net benefits
benefits from
fromprevention
prevention
alternatives…
alternatives…
The
The role
role of
of information
information
in
in Exxon-Valdez
Exxon-Valdez oiloil spill
spill
I. Phosphate Mining and

Reclamation
Description, historical perspective,

phosphate facts...
Summary
Summary of
of Phosphate
Phosphate Mining
Mining System
System
Secondary area of mining

(50,000 acres)
Main phosphate
formation…
the “bone valley”
(1.3 million acres)
Historical Perspective
Mining began in late 1800’s

Mined Peace River bottom
Until late 1930’s small scale - wide spread
Large scale mining began in 1950’s
Currently about 5000 acres /year are mined
Phosphate mining facts...

Mined area to date………………….320,000 acres
Mining rate…………………...5 - 6,000 acres/yr
Total to be mined…….….700,000 acres
Investment in facilities………...$10 billion
Yearly wages…………………………….$300 million/yr
Taxes paid………………………………..$800 million/yr
Operating expenses (2001)
Equip and supplies……….$990 million
Electricity…………………….$100 million
Services………………………..$178 million
Phosphate Mining vs. Everglades Restoration
Phosphate Everglades
Reclamation Restoration
Total Area 0.7 million Acres 1.5 million acres

Total cost $3.6 billion $7.8 billion
Yearly Op. Costs $0.0 $182 million
II. Quick Photographic

Overview
Emergy Evaluation of Phosphate

Mining and Reclamation
Systems View and Emergy of Mining
Rain
Rain PP Tra
Trans
nsppira
irat io
t ionn 3.8
3.8E19
E19sej
sej
gd. PP
gd.
HH2 OO 1.3
1.3E22
E22sej
sej
2 Mining
Mining
6,000
6,000Mt/ac
Mt/ac
O.
O.M.
M.
Sun Vegetation
Vegetation Acid PP
Sun Acid
HH
22OO
PO
PO55
Ca
Calclcium
ium
Carbonat
Carbonatee
160
160acres
acres
Emergy
Emergy in
in Restoration...
Restoration...
Plant
Plant Earth
Earth Infor.
Infor.
Material
Material Moving Services
Moving Services
1.5
1.5
3.0
3.0 1.2
1.2
Ecosystem
Ecosystem
Sun
Sun 12.0
12.0 Ecosystems
Ecosystems Services
Services
Spoil
Spoil Structure
Structure
Soils
Soils
160
160acres
acres
(assumes
(assumes100
100years) EE18
years) 18sej
sej
Benefits
Benefits of
of Restoration...
Restoration...
RaR
in
ainPP
Transpiration 3.8
Transpiration 3.8E1E
919sesjej
gdg.d. PP 1.3
H2 OO M
iM
niin 1.3E2E
222sesjej
H 2 ng
ing 6,000 M
SuS
nun V
eV
geegtation
O
.O
M
. .M
. A
cid P 6,000 t/a
M cc
t/a
.
etation HO
2AcidP
.
H2O
PO
P5
O
Calcium 5
CaC
rb
ao
lcniu
am
te
Carbonate
161060acarecsres
Mining
MiningOccurs 3.0
Occurs 3.0E14
E14sej/ac/yr
sej/ac/yr
3 .0
3 .0
1 .5
1 .5
Production
Productionwithout
without
Production
Productionwith
with Reclamation
Reclamation Reclamation
Reclamation
0
0
0 100 200 300 400 500
0 100 200 300 400 500
Years
Years
Benefits
Benefits of
of Restoration...
Restoration...
aP
1.51.5 M
laPnria
te
Matelatnria
ltl M EavErth
oM oianvrth
ging SeISnrvfoicfo
eInrv
r.esr.
ices
3.03.0 1.21.2 M
iM
niinngingOcO
ccucrsurs 3.0
3.0E1E414sese
j/aj/a
c/yrr
c/y
3.03.0
SuSnun 121.02.0 Ecosystems E

SceEocsy ste m
Ecosystems SpSopiloil Stru eorv
Srv icsy
eicsste
esm
ctuctu
Stru rere 1.51.5 Produdcuticotinon wiw
thout
Produdcuticotinonwiw
th Pro
Rec lam atio nn ithout
SoSils
oils Pro
Rec lam
Rec lam onn ith
atiatio Rec lam atio
161060acarecsres 00
00 101000 202000 303000 404000 505000
(as(asussm
uem
ses101000yeyaersa)rs) EE
1818sesjej YeY
aersars
Ne
Nett Be
Bene
nefit
fit ooff Re
Recclamat
lamatioion:
n:
Los
Losss wit
witho ut Re
hout Recla
clama
mat tioion
n == 33.0.0 E1
E144 sseej/j/aac/c/yryr **116600 aacc **550000 yryr **00.5.5
== 1122.0.0 E1
E188 sseejj
Los
Losss wit
withh Re
Recla
clamma
a t tion
ion == 33.0.0 E1
E144 sseej/j/aac/c/yryr**116600 aacc **110000 yryr**00.5.5
== 22.4.4 E1
E188 sseejj
Ne
Net t be
b ene
nefitfit rerecla
clama
mat tioion
n == 1122.0.0 E1
E188 sseej j- -22.4.4 E1
E188 sseej j
== 99.6.6 E1
E188 sseejj
Net
Net Benefits
Benefits Ratio...
Ratio...
Pte
laPnla
riatnria
ltl M E avErth
avrth InrvIfo r.esr.
1.5
1.5
M
aM a te oM oin gg
in SeS enrv
icfo
ices M
iM
niinngingOcO
ccucrsurs 3.0
3.0
3.0 1.12.2 3.0E1E414sese
j/aj/a
c/y rr
c/y
3.0
3.0
SuSnun 121.0 E
SceEocsoic
yseteste
m
2.0 EcE
ocsy
ossyteste
mmss
SpSopiloil ervsy
Srv icesm
StrSutrcuturere
ctu 1.5
1.5 Pro dudcuticotinon wiw
thout
Produdcuticotinonwiw
th Pro
Rec lam atio nn ithout
SoSils
oils Pro
Rec lam
Rec lam atio nn ith
atio Rec lam atio
161060acarecrses 00
00 101000 202000 303000 404000 505000
(a(a
sssusm
uem
ses101000yeyaersa)rs) EE
1818sesjej YeY
aersars
Ne
Nett Be
Bene
nefit
fit ooff Re
Recclamat
lamatioion:
n:
Reclamation
Reclamationcosts
costs==1.5
1.5++3.0
3.0++1.2
1.2
== 55.7.7 E1 8 sseejj
E1 8
Re
Reclam
clamat
ation
ion bbeene
nefit
fitss == 99.6
.6 E1
E188 sseejj
Ne
Nett bbeene
nefit
fit rat
ratioio == 99.6
.6 // 55.7
.7 == 11.6
.688//11
Transformity and Toxicity

Transformities of selected metals as global flows to atmosphere and

storages within a river ecosystem
Annual releases to atmosphere River ecosystem

(seJ/J) (seJ/J)
Aluminum 9.65E+06 3.30E+07

Iron 8.46E+07 6.19E+07
Chromium 2.59E+10 1.99E+10
Arsenic 8.56E+11 --
Lead 2.39E+12 3.59E+10
Cadmium 1.52E+13 8.78E+10
Mercury 6.85E+14 --
a - Not including human release

b - Genoni et al. 2003
 As transformities (emergy intensities) increase

their potential effect within ecosystem increases.
 Effects can be both positive and negative.
Transformity does not suggest the outcome that

might result from the interaction of a stressor
within an ecosystem, only that with high
transformity, the effect is greater.
The ultimate
The ultimate effect
effectofofa pollutant
a pollutantor toxin is not only
or toxin related
is not onlyto
its transformity, but more importantly to its concentration or
related to its transformity,
emergy density (emergy per unitbutarea,more importantly
i.e. seJ/m 2
) in the to its
concentration
ecosystem. or empower density (emergy per unit
area per unit time, i.e. seJ/m2*day) in the ecosystem.
Where
 Whereempower density of a stressor is significantly
emergy density of a stressor is significantly higher than
higher than emergy
the average the average
densityempower densityitofisthe
of the ecosystem ecosystem
released into,
itone
is can expectinto,
released significant
one canchanges
expectin ecosystem
significantfunction.
changes in
ecosystem function.
 For instance, using the transformity of mercury in the previous

Table and the exergy of mercury (Szargut et al. 1988) one can
convert the transformity to a specific emergy of 3.7 E17 sej/g.
 Using this specific emergy, and a mercury concentration of

0.001 ppb (the level the EPA considers to have chronic effects on
aquatic life) the emergy density of the mercury in a lake would be
3.7 E12 sej/m2.
Emergy Density of Florida Ecosystems is

about 1.0 E9 sej/m2
Landscape Development Intensity (LDI)

Index
System
System Diagram
Diagram of
of Landscape
Landscape
Development
Development Impacts
Impacts
Landscape Development Intensity…
100.0
90.0
80.0
70.0
60.0
50.0
40.0
30.0
20.0
10.0
Wetland
0.0 Condition Index
0.0 1.0 2.0 3.0 4.0 5.0 6.0 7.0 8.0 9.0 10.0
Human Disturbance Gradient
Independent measure of disturbance using land

use/land cover, aerial photographs, and
ground observations
Based on intensity of human use
 Intensity measured by nonrenewable energy

flow.
 Energy expressed in the same quality.
 Energy flow characteristics determined per
hectare of various land use types.
Land Use, Non-Renewable Empower Density, and Resulting LDI Coefficients
Non-Renewable LDI
Land Use Empower Density Coefficients
Land Use
(E14 sej/ha/yr)
Natural EcoSystem 0.00 1.00
Natural Open water 0.00 1.00
Pine Plantation
Recreational / Open Space (Low-intensity)
5.10
6.55
1.58
1.83
Development
Woodland Pasture (with livestock)
Pasture (without livestock)
8.00
17.20
2.02
2.77 Intensity
Coefficients...
Low Intensity Pasture (with livestock) 33.31 3.41
Citrus 44.00 3.68
High Intensity Pasture (with livestock) 46.74 3.74
Row crops 107.13 4.54
Single Family Residential (Low-density) 1,077.00 6.79
Recreational / Open Space (High-intensity) 1,230.00 6.92
High Intensity Agriculture (Dairy farm) 1,349.20 7.00
Single Family Residential (Med-density) 2,175.00 7.47
Single Family Residential (High-density) 2,371.80 7.55
Mobile Home (Medium density) 2,748.00 7.70
Highway (2 lane) 3,080.00 7.81
Low Intensity Commercial 3,758.00 8.00
Institutional 4,042.20 8.07
Highway (4 lane) 5,020.00 8.28
Mobile Home (High density) 5,087.00 8.29
Industrial 5,210.60 8.32
Multi-family Residential (Low rise) 7,391.50 8.66
High Intensity Commercial 12,661.00 9.18
Multi-family Residential (High rise) 12,825.00 9.19
Central Business District (Average 2 stories) 16,150.30 9.42
Central Business District (Average 4 stories) 29,401.30 10.00
Representative LDI Coefficients
Land use LDI-Coeff.

Natural landscape 1.0
Tree plantation 1.6
Pasture 3.0 - 3.7
Agriculture 4.0 - 5.0
Residential uses 6.0 - 8.3
Roadways 7.8 - 8.5
Commercial/Industrial uses 8.0 - 10.0
LDI =  (LDIj * %LUj)

Where,
LDI = Landscape Development Intensity Index
LDIj = LDI coefficient for land use “j”
%LUj = Percent area of the wetland drainage

basin occupied by land use “j”
Total
Total Nitrogen
Nitrogen Load
Load
22
22
20
20
18
18
16
16
14
14
12
12
10
10
88
TN
TN6(kg/ha-yr)
(kg/ha-yr)
6
44
22
00
00 11 22 33 44 55 66 77 88 99 10
10
LDI
LDI
Total
Total Phosphorus
Phosphorus Load
Load
3.5
3.5
33
2.5
2.5
22
1.5
1.5
TP
TP1(kg/ha-yr)
(kg/ha-yr)
1
0.5
0.5
00
00 11 22 33 44 55 66 77 88 99 10
10
LDI
LDI
Total
Total Suspended
Suspended Solids
Solids Load
Load
700
700
600
600
500
500
400
400
300
300
TSS
TSS ( kg/ha/yr )
200( kg/ha/yr )
200
100
100
00
00 11 22 33 44 55 66 77 88 99 10
10
LDI
LDI
LDI
LDI and
and Wetland
Wetland Rapid
Rapid
10
10
Assessment
Assessment “Score”
“Score”
99
88
77
66
55
WRAP
44
WRAP Agricultural
Agricultural
33 Reference
Reference
22 Urban
Urban
11
00
00 11 22 33 44 55 66 77 88 99 10
10
LDI
LDI
100
100 Reference
Reference
Agricultural
Agricultural
Urban
80
80
Urban
60
60
40
40
Florida
Florida WCI
WCI
20
20
00
00 11 22 33 44 55 66 77 88 99 10
10
LDI
LDI
Global Ecosystem Health as a

Function of Landscape
Development Intensity??
Global
GlobalEstimate
EstimateofofEcological
EcologicalHealth
Health
Lands c ape
Lands c ape
De v e lo p m e n t
De v e lo p m e n t
In t e n s it y
In t e n s it y
LD I % Impaire d
LD I % Impaire d
9 - 10 90%
9 - 10 90%
8-9 80%
5 8- 7- 9 6 08 %
0%
5-7 60%
4-5 50%
4-5 50%
3-4 40%
3-4 40%
2-3 30%
2-3 30%
1-2 20%
1-2 20%
1.0 0 - 10%
1.0 0 - 10%

Emergy and Environmental Impact Assessment

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Emergy & Complex Systems

Day 4, Lecture 8….

Oil spill, phosphate mining, transformity and

On March 24, 1989, the Exxon Valdez grounded on Bligh

Percent of the total losses

I. Phosphate Mining and

Description, historical perspective,

Secondary area of mining

Mining began in late 1800’s

Phosphate mining facts...

Phosphate Mining vs. Everglades Restoration

Total Area 0.7 million Acres 1.5 million acres

II. Quick Photographic

Emergy Evaluation of Phosphate

Systems View and Emergy of Mining

SuSnun 121.02.0 Ecosystems E

Transformity and Toxicity

Transformity and Toxicity

Transformities of selected metals as global flows to atmosphere and

Annual releases to atmosphere River ecosystem

Aluminum 9.65E+06 3.30E+07

a - Not including human release

Transformity and Toxicity

 As transformities (emergy intensities) increase

 Effects can be both positive and negative.

Transformity does not suggest the outcome that

Transformity and Toxicity

Transformity and Toxicity

 For instance, using the transformity of mercury in the previous

 Using this specific emergy, and a mercury concentration of

Emergy Density of Florida Ecosystems is

Landscape Development Intensity (LDI)

Human Disturbance Gradient

Independent measure of disturbance using land

Based on intensity of human use

 Intensity measured by nonrenewable energy

Representative LDI Coefficients

Land use LDI-Coeff.

LDI =  (LDIj * %LUj)

LDIj = LDI coefficient for land use “j”

%LUj = Percent area of the wetland drainage

Global Ecosystem Health as a

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