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AN EMERGY ANALYSIS OF THE GLOBAL NITROGEN CYCLE
Citation:
Campbell, D E. AN EMERGY ANALYSIS OF THE GLOBAL NITROGEN CYCLE. Presented at 2nd Biennial Emergy Evaluation and Research Conference, Gainsville, FL, September 20-22, 2001.
Description:
Human use of fossil fuel to build and support a global society during the past 150 years has resulted in major changes in the annual biogeochemical fluxes of nitrogen through the terrestrial, oceanic and atmospheric systems of the earth. The various forms of nitrogen produced by industrial societies occur naturally at different concentrations and in different positions in the hierarchical network of energy transformations that comprise the global nitrogen cycle. Over the history of the earth, the maximum power principle predicts that an optimum pattern of nitrogen storages and flows will develop to maximize empower in the planetary biogeo sphere. The development of this pattern has produced an environment that promotes the flourishing of life on earth. The ultimate effects of these anthropogenic changes on global nitrogen fluxes is uncertain. Using the principles of energy systems theory, we can better understand the potential effects of anthropogenic alterations to the global nitrogen fluxes if we have transformities for the many storages and flows of the various nitrogen species that occur throughout the biogeosphere. In this paper these transformities are calculated and interpreted using three perspectives, hierarchical energy transformation, increasing concentration, and the turnover time of storage.