全球液化天然气运输网络特征及其演化

液化天然气（liquefied natural gas,LNG）作为一种清洁低碳能源,在全球能源消费市场中发挥着越来越重要的作用。LNG通过船舶在港口之间进行运输,但当前对港口尺度下的贸易模式及其演化了解相对有限。因此,本文采用复杂网络指标和社区探测方法,利用2013—2017年全球LNG船舶轨迹大数据来分析其贸易格局及其演化特征。结果表明：① LNG运输网络规模呈现出阶段性变化特征,网络中港口之间的贸易联系相对较为稀疏。② LNG运输网络围绕着枢纽港口形成了一系列贸易社区。其中新加坡港、豪尔费坎港、拉斯拉凡港扮演着极其重要的角色。③ 随时间推移,同一贸易社区内的港口在地理空间上呈现出更加集聚的特征,且同一国家港口所归属社区也变得更加集聚。

Research on characteristics and evolution of global LNG transportation network

As a clean, low-carbon energy source, liquefied natural gas(LNG) plays an increasingly important role in the global energy consumption market. LNG is transported between ports through vessels, but current studies on LNG trade patterns and their evolution at the port scale is relatively limited. In this paper, we use complex network indices and community detection methods to analyze the trade pattern and evolution of the global LNG transportation network using vessel trajectory from 2013 to 2017. The results show that:(1)The LNG transportation network scale presents phased changes characteristics, and the trade relations between ports in the network are relatively sparse;(2) LNG transportation network forms a series of trading communities around hub ports. Among them, Singapore, Ras Laffan and Khawr Fakkan play extremely important roles;(3) Both ports in the same community and the communities of ports within the same country show a more geographically concentrated character.