Emergy & Complex Systems
Day 4, Lecture 8….
Emergy and
Environmental Impact Assessment
Oil spill, phosphate mining, transformity and
toxicity, transformity and ecosystem health
Emergy & Complex Systems
Day 4, Lecture 8….
Environmental Impacts on
Terrestrial Ecosystems...
Emergy & Complex Systems
Day 4, Lecture 8….
Environmental Impacts on
Marine Ecosystems...
Emergy & Complex Systems
Day 4, Lecture 8….
Emergy Ratios for
Assessing Environmental
Impact
Emergy & Complex Systems
Day 4, Lecture 8….
Comparison of
Development Alternatives
Imports
from Main
Economy
F1
F2
F2
R2
Env
Source
R
R1
New Use
Original Use
to be
diverted
R3
P3
Alternate
P2
P1
R1 *ELR
R1
Potential
P4
Emergy & Complex Systems
Day 4, Lecture 8….
Emergy Evaluation of
Exxon Valdez Oil Spill
Emergy & Complex Systems
Day 4, Lecture 8….
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.
Emergy & Complex Systems
Day 4, Lecture 8….
Emergy & Complex Systems
Day 4, Lecture 8….
Map of Alaska showing the
Trans-Alaska pipeline...
Emergy & Complex Systems
Day 4, Lecture 8….
Map showing the extent of the
oil spill in Gulf of Alaska...
Emergy & Complex Systems
Day 4, Lecture 8….
Two estimates of damages
resulting from the oil spill...
Percent of the total losses
Emergy & Complex Systems
Day 4, Lecture 8….
Distribution of the loss
estimates...
Emergy & Complex Systems
Day 4, Lecture 8….
Oil spill losses compared to
regional emergy budgets...
Emergy & Complex Systems
Day 4, Lecture 8….
Net benefits from prevention
alternatives…
Emergy & Complex Systems
Day 4, Lecture 8….
The role of information
in Exxon-Valdez oil spill
Emergy & Complex Systems
Day 4, Lecture 8….
I. Phosphate Mining and
Reclamation
Description, historical perspective,
phosphate facts...
Emergy & Complex Systems
Day 4, Lecture 8….
Summary of Phosphate Mining System
Emergy & Complex Systems
Day 4, Lecture 8….
Secondary area of mining
(50,000 acres)
Main phosphate
formation…
the “bone valley”
(1.3 million acres)
Emergy & Complex Systems
Day 4, Lecture 8….
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
Emergy & Complex Systems
Day 4, Lecture 8….
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
Emergy & Complex Systems
Day 4, Lecture 8….
Phosphate Mining vs. Everglades Restoration
Phosphate
Reclamation
Everglades
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
Emergy & Complex Systems
Day 4, Lecture 8….
II. Quick Photographic
Overview
Emergy & Complex Systems
Day 4, Lecture 8….
Emergy & Complex Systems
Day 4, Lecture 8….
Emergy & Complex Systems
Day 4, Lecture 8….
Emergy & Complex Systems
Day 4, Lecture 8….
Emergy & Complex Systems
Day 4, Lecture 8….
Emergy & Complex Systems
Day 4, Lecture 8….
Emergy & Complex Systems
Day 4, Lecture 8….
Emergy & Complex Systems
Day 4, Lecture 8….
Emergy & Complex Systems
Day 4, Lecture 8….
Emergy & Complex Systems
Day 4, Lecture 8….
Emergy & Complex Systems
Day 4, Lecture 8….
Emergy & Complex Systems
Day 4, Lecture 8….
Emergy & Complex Systems
Day 4, Lecture 8….
Emergy & Complex Systems
Day 4, Lecture 8….
Emergy & Complex Systems
Day 4, Lecture 8….
Emergy & Complex Systems
Day 4, Lecture 8….
Emergy & Complex Systems
Day 4, Lecture 8….
Emergy & Complex Systems
Day 4, Lecture 8….
Emergy & Complex Systems
Day 4, Lecture 8….
Emergy & Complex Systems
Day 4, Lecture 8….
Emergy & Complex Systems
Day 4, Lecture 8….
Emergy Evaluation of Phosphate
Mining and Reclamation
Emergy & Complex Systems
Day 4, Lecture 8….
Systems View and Emergy of Mining
Emergy & Complex Systems
Day 4, Lecture 8….
Emergy in Restoration...
Plant
Material
Earth
Moving
Inf or.
Services
1.5
3.0
Sun
12.0
1.2
Ecosystem
Services
Ecosystems
Structure
Spoil
Soils
160 acres
(assumes 100 years)
E 18 sej
Emergy & Complex Systems
Day 4, Lecture 8….
Benefits of Restoration...
Rain
Tr anspir at ion
P
3.8
gd.
P
H2 O
1.3
sej
E22
sej
Mining
6,000
O. M.
Sun
E19
Mt / ac
A cid P
H2 O
Veget at ion
.
PO5
Calcium
Car bonat e
160
acres
Gross Primary Production
(E 14 sej.ac./yr.)
Mining Occurs
3.0 E14 sej/ac/yr
3 .0
1 .5
Production w ith
Reclamation
Production w ithout
Reclamation
0
0
100
200
Years
300
400
500
Emergy & Complex Systems
Day 4, Lecture 8….
Benefits of Restoration...
Plant
Mat erial
Eart h
Moving
Inf or.
Services
1.5
Mining
3.0
Gross Primary Production
(E 14 sej.ac./yr.)
Sun
Ecosy st em
Services
12.0
Ecosy st em s
Sp o i l
St ruct ure
1.5
Product ion wit h
Reclam at ion
0
Net
Product ion
wit hout
Reclam at ion
0
acres
(assumes 100
3.0 E14 sej/ ac/ yr
3.0
So i l s
160
Occurs
1.2
years)
Benefit
E 18 sej
100
200
300
400
Years
of Reclamat ion:
Loss wit hout Reclamat ion = 3.0 E14 sej/ ac/ yr * 160 ac * 500 yr * 0.5
= 1 2 .0 E1 8 sej
Loss wit h Reclamat ion
= 3.0 E14 sej/ ac/ yr * 160 ac * 100 yr * 0.5
= 2 .4 E1 8 sej
Net benefit reclamat ion = 12.0 E18 sej - 2.4 E18 sej
= 9 .6 E1 8 sej
500
Emergy & Complex Systems
Day 4, Lecture 8….
Net Benefits Ratio...
Plant
Mat erial
Eart h
Moving
Inf or.
Services
1.5
Mining
3.0
Ecosy st em
Services
12.0
Ecosy st em s
Sp o i l
St ruct ure
Gross Primary Production
(E 14 sej.ac./yr.)
Sun
Occurs
3.0
1.5
Product ion wit h
Reclam at ion
So i l s
160
Product ion
wit hout
Reclam at ion
0
acres
0
(assumes 100
3.0 E14 sej/ ac/ yr
1.2
years)
100
E 18 sej
200
300
Years
Net Benefit of Reclamat ion:
Reclamation costs = 1.5 + 3.0 + 1.2
= 5 .7 E1 8 sej
Reclamat ion benefit s = 9 .6 E1 8 sej
Net benefit rat io = 9 .6 / 5 .7 = 1 .6 8 / 1
400
500
Emergy & Complex Systems
Day 4, Lecture 8….
Transformity and Toxicity
Emergy & Complex Systems
Day 4, Lecture 8….
Transformity and Toxicity
Transformities of selected metals as global flows to atmosphere and
storages within a river ecosystem
Aluminum
Iron
Chromium
Arsenic
Lead
Cadmium
Mercury
Annual releases to atmosphere
(seJ/J)
River ecosystem
(seJ/J)
9.65E+06
8.46E+07
2.59E+10
8.56E+11
2.39E+12
1.52E+13
6.85E+14
3.30E+07
6.19E+07
1.99E+10
-3.59E+10
8.78E+10
--
a - Not including human release
b - Genoni et al. 2003
Emergy & Complex Systems
Day 4, Lecture 8….
Transformity and Toxicity
 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.
Emergy & Complex Systems
Day 4, Lecture 8….
Transformity and Toxicity
The ultimate
ultimate effect
or toxin
is not only
related
The
effectofofa pollutant
a pollutant
or toxin
is not
onlyto
its transformity, but more importantly to its concentration or
related
to its transformity,
more
importantly
2) in the to its
emergy density
(emergy per unitbut
area,
i.e. seJ/m
concentration
or empower density (emergy per unit
ecosystem.
area per unit time, i.e. seJ/m2*day) in the ecosystem.
Where
density
a stressor
is significantly
 Whereempower
emergy density
of aofstressor
is significantly
higher than
higher
than emergy
the average
densityitofisthe
ecosystem
the average
densityempower
of the ecosystem
released
into,
expectinto,
significant
changes
in ecosystem
itone
is can
released
one can
expect
significantfunction.
changes in
ecosystem function.
Emergy & Complex Systems
Day 4, Lecture 8….
Transformity and Toxicity
 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
Emergy & Complex Systems
Day 4, Lecture 8….
Landscape Development Intensity (LDI)
Index
Emergy & Complex Systems
Day 4, Lecture 8….
System Diagram of Landscape
Development Impacts
Wetland Condition Index
Emergy & Complex Systems
Day 4, Lecture 8….
Landscape Development Intensity…
100.0
90.0
80.0
70.0
60.0
50.0
40.0
30.0
20.0
10.0
0.0
0. 0
1 .0
2. 0
3. 0
4. 0
5. 0
6. 0
7. 0
8. 0
Human Disturbance Gradient
9. 0
1 0.0
Independent measure of disturbance using land
use/land cover, aerial photographs, and
ground observations
Emergy & Complex Systems
Day 4, Lecture 8….
Landscape Development Intensity…
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.
Emergy & Complex Systems
Day 4, Lecture 8….
Land Use, Non-Renewable Empower Density, and Resulting LDI Coefficients
Land Use
Non-Renewable
LDI
Empower Density
Coefficients
(E14 sej/ha/yr)
Natural EcoSystem
0. 00
1.00
Natural Open water
0. 00
1.00
Pine Plantation
5.10
1.58
Recreational / Open Space (Low-intensity)
6. 55
1.83
Woodland Pasture (with livestock)
8. 00
2. 02
Pasture (without livestock)
1 7.20
2. 77
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
1 07.1 3
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 (M ed-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 Comm ercial
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 Comme rcial
1 2,661.00
9.18
Multi-family Residential (High rise)
1 2,825. 00
9.19
Central Business District (Average 2 stories)
1 6,1 50.30
9. 42
Central Business District (Average 4 stories)
29,4 01.30
1 0.00
Land Use
Development
Intensity
Coefficients...
Emergy & Complex Systems
Day 4, Lecture 8….
Representative LDI Coefficients
Land use
LDI-Coeff.
Natural landscape
Tree plantation
Pasture
Agriculture
Residential uses
Roadways
Commercial/Industrial uses
1.0
1.6
3.0 - 3.7
4.0 - 5.0
6.0 - 8.3
7.8 - 8.5
8.0 - 10.0
Emergy & Complex Systems
Day 4, Lecture 8….
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”
Emergy & Complex Systems
Day 4, Lecture 8….
Landscape Development Intensity…
TN (kg/ha-yr)
Total Nitrogen Load
22
20
18
16
14
12
10
8
6
4
2
0
0
1
2
3
4
5
LDI
6
7
8
9
10
Emergy & Complex Systems
Day 4, Lecture 8….
Landscape Development Intensity…
Total Phosphorus Load
3.5
TP (kg/ha-yr)
3
2.5
2
1.5
1
0.5
0
0
1
2
3
4
5
LDI
6
7
8
9
10
Emergy & Complex Systems
Day 4, Lecture 8….
Landscape Development Intensity…
Total Suspended Solids Load
700
TSS ( kg/ha/yr )
600
500
400
300
200
100
0
0
1
2
3
4
5
LDI
6
7
8
9
10
Emergy & Complex Systems
Day 4, Lecture 8….
Landscape Development Intensity…
LDI and Wetland Rapid
Assessment “Score”
10
9
8
WRAP
7
6
5
4
Agricultural
Reference
Urban
3
2
1
0
0
1
2
3
4
5
LDI
6
7
8
9
10
Emergy & Complex Systems
Day 4, Lecture 8….
Landscape Development Intensity…
1 00
Reference
Agricultural
Urban
Florida WCI
80
60
40
20
0
0
1
2
3
4
5
LDI
6
7
8
9
10
Emergy & Complex Systems
Day 4, Lecture 8….
Global Ecosystem Health as a
Function of Landscape
Development Intensity??
Emergy & Complex Systems
Day 4, Lecture 8….
Global Estimate of Ecological Health
Landscape
De v e lopme nt
In t e n sit y
LDI
9 - 10
8- 9
5- 7
4- 5
3- 4
2- 3
1- 2
1.0
%
Impaired
90%
80%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
0 - 10%
Emergy & Complex Systems
Day 4, Lecture 8….