Estimating the Value of Global Ecosystem Structure and Productivity: A Geographic Information System and Emergy Based Approach

We have used the coverages of renewable emergy input developed from satellite derived data to determine the emergy supporting ecosystem productivity and biotic natural capital. In addition, the impact on global productivity and biotic natural capital that has resulted from human induced land cover change was evaluated. The actual evapotranpiration (AET), which is the portion of rain that is used by vegetation was the most significant driver of ecosystems. However, the accumulation of biomass over time is not only affected by the available water used, but also by solar input and negatively affected by wind. Additionally, we have estimated the value of ecosystem function and storages. In pre-anthroponcene era, total annual emdollar value of global gross primary production was em$ 12.3 trillion and the total emdollar value of biotic natural capital which includes below and above ground biomass as well as the soil carbon was em$ 578.5 trillion. However, total losses of biotic natural capital from land cover change since the anthropocene began equal to em$88.5 trillion or about 16% of total preanthropocene value.

Automated summary

The study utilized satellite-derived data to determine the impact of renewable energy input on ecosystem productivity and biotic natural capital, as well as evaluating the effects of human-induced land cover change on global productivity and natural capital. The findings indicate that water and solar input are key drivers of ecosystem productivity, while wind negatively affects biomass accumulation. The analysis revealed the significant value of ecosystem functions and storages, with losses of biotic natural capital from land cover change since the Anthropocene era accounting for a substantial percentage of total pre-Anthropocene value.