Sankey Flow: Visualizing Energy and Resource Transformations
Sankey charts are a type of flow chart that are particularly useful for visualizing energy and resource transformations. They were originally developed by Carl Peter Sankey in the early 20th century as a way to analyze the flow of energy and resources between different sectors of an economy. Today, Sankey charts are widely used in a variety of fields, including energy, economics, and sustainability.
Creation of Sankey Charts
Sankey charts are created by drawing a horizontal axis and a vertical axis, with thesankey chartcrossing the axis to represent a “diamond” where the horizontal and vertical axes intersect. The chart is then filled with arrows, each of which represents a flow of energy or resources between two sectors. The arrows on the horizontal axis represent the input of energy or resources into a particular sector, while the arrows on the vertical axis represent the output of these same energy or resources from that sector.
Applications of Sankey Charts
Sankey charts are useful for visualizing a wide range of energy and resource transformations, including the flow of energy and resources between different regions, sectors of an economy, and even between different ecosystems. They can be used to analyze the efficiency of energy and resource use, highlight areas where improvements can be made, and track changes over time.
Some specific applications of Sankey charts include:
- Analyzing the efficiency of energy production and consumption, especially in the context of renewable energy sources.
- Identifying areas where energy conservation measures can be implemented to reduce energy waste and lower energy bills.
- Comparing the energy and resource inputs and outputs of different sectors of an economy, such as the agricultural, industrial, and service sectors.
- Tracking changes in the distribution and consumption of resources, such as water or minerals, over time.
In conclusion, Sankey charts are a useful tool for visualizing energy and resource transformations. They provide a simple and effective way to track and analyze the flow of energy and resources between different sectors and regions, and can be used to identify opportunities for improvement and guide policy decisions.
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