Global Salinity Gradient Energy Potential Database (ARA24)

Description

This database provides an assessment of the Salinity Gradient Energy potential that can be harnessed from river mouths worldwide (also known as blue energy or osmotic energy). This resource integrates data on freshwater discharge, salinity, and temperature at river mouths globally, offering estimates of theoretical and extractable SGE potential alongside additional parameters of interest. A detailed methodology, maps, and analyses derived from this database are presented in the manuscript: Álvarez-Silva, O., Roldán-Carvajal, M., & Arévalo, F. "Extended assessment of the globally extractable salinity gradient energy from river mouths." (submitted for publication on 13.12.2024). When using this database, please cite the scientific paper and the dataset, prioritizing the scientific publication to ensure proper acknowledgment. Inputs 1. Sea Surface Salinity: Data from the NASA Soil Moisture Active Passive (SMAP) observatory, specifically the JPL SMAP-SSS V5.0 CAP product. 2. Sea Surface Temperature: Data from the Moderate-resolution Imaging Spectrometer (MODIS) onboard NASA’s Aqua satellite, part of the Earth Observation System (EOS). 3. River Discharge Databases: • Database 1 (N20): Multiannual average discharge (1980–2010) from 10,848 river mouths, derived from global models and satellite data as compiled by Nienhuis et al. (2020) DOI: 10.1038/s41586-019-1905-9. Used for assessing global theoretical SGE potential. • Database 2 (ARA24): Monthly discharge data from 1,078 river mouths, compiled from global datasets and national hydrology agencies. Used for estimating extractable SGE potential. Outputs 1. SGE_Global_Database_N20.xlsx: A single-sheet dataset with data for 10,848 river mouths, including: • River name, country, and ocean basin. • Coordinates and multiannual average hydrological and oceanographic data. • Energy density, theoretical potential, and regional summaries. 2. SGE_Global_Database_ARA24.xlsx: A multi-sheet dataset with data for 1,078 river mouths, including: • Sheet 1: River names, locations (coordinates, country, region, continent, ocean basin), mean monthly discharge, environmental discharge, extraction factor, design flow, monthly extractable discharge, and capacity factor. • Sheet 2: Monthly energy density variability. • Sheet 3: Monthly variability and long-term averages of theoretical potential. • Sheet 4: Monthly variability and long-term averages of extractable potential. • Sheets 5-7: Monthly extractable potential summaries by ocean basin, country, and region, respectively. 3. SGE_Global_Viewer.exe: • An interactive application compiled in Matlab® to visualize ARA24 data. • Users can adjust extraction factors and environmental discharge, with outputs including design flow, capacity factor, and extractable potential. • The users do not require Matlab® installation or a software license.

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