Radiation and the Irreversible Thermodynamics of Climate

Essex, Christopher

doi:10.1175/1520-0469(1984)041<1985:ratito>2.0.co;2

Cited by 53 publications

(61 citation statements)

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“…Note that, in some treatments, a factor of 4/3 in the entropy production associated with radiative transfer is included (Essex 1984). The additional term of 1/3σ T 4 stems from the contribution of the change in photon pressure during absorption (Press 1976) and is practically of no relevance to the energy exchanges on Earth.…”

Section: Radiative Transfermentioning

confidence: 99%

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Nonequilibrium thermodynamics and maximum entropy production in the Earth system

Kleidon

2009

Naturwissenschaften

149

123

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The Earth system is maintained in a unique state far from thermodynamic equilibrium, as, for instance, reflected in the high concentration of reactive oxygen in the atmosphere. The myriad of processes that transform energy, that result in the motion of mass in the atmosphere, in oceans, and on land, processes that drive the global water, carbon, and other biogeochemical cycles, all have in common that they are irreversible in their nature. Entropy production is a general consequence of these processes and measures their degree of irreversibility. The proposed principle of maximum entropy production (MEP) states that systems are driven to steady states in which they produce entropy at the maximum possible rate given the prevailing constraints. In this review, the basics of nonequilibrium thermodynamics are described, as well as how these apply to Earth system processes. Applications of the MEP principle are discussed, ranging from the strength of the atmospheric circulation, the hydrological cycle, and biogeochemical cycles to the role that life plays in these processes. Nonequilibrium thermodynamics and the MEP principle have potentially wide-ranging implications for our understanding of Earth system functioning, how it has evolved in the past, and why it is habitable. Entropy production allows us to quantify an objective direction of Earth system change (closer to vs further away from thermodynamic equilibrium, or, equivalently, towards a state of MEP). When a maximum in entropy production is reached, MEP implies A. Kleidon (B) Max-Planck-Institut für Biogeochemie, Postfach 10 01 64, 07701 Jena, Germany e-mail: akleidon@bgc-jena.mpg.de that the Earth system reacts to perturbations primarily with negative feedbacks. In conclusion, this nonequilibrium thermodynamic view of the Earth system shows great promise to establish a holistic description of the Earth as one system. This perspective is likely to allow us to better understand and predict its function as one entity, how it has evolved in the past, and how it is modified by human activities in the future.

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Section: Radiative Transfermentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Further relevant research on entropy of radiation is found in Essex (1984), Callies and Herbert (1988), Lesins (1990), and Goody and Abdou (1996).…”

Section: Radiative Transfermentioning

confidence: 99%

Nonequilibrium thermodynamics and maximum entropy production in the Earth system

Kleidon

2009

Naturwissenschaften

149

123

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“…Exchange of energy (in a unit volume) is possible if the temperature of matter and the (brightness) temperature of the monochromatic ray differ. The entropy produced thereby may be given the classic bilinear form J ν X ν [14,[18][19][20], where the thermodynamic flux is J ν (= I ν − B ν ), while the difference of reciprocal temperatures,…”

Section: The Entropy Inequality For the Combined System Of Matter Andmentioning

confidence: 99%

On the Clausius-Duhem Inequality and Maximum Entropy Production in a Simple Radiating System

Pelkowski

2014

Entropy

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A black planet irradiated by a sun serves as the archetype for a simple radiating two-layer system admitting of a continuum of steady states under steadfast insolation. Steady entropy production rates may be calculated for different opacities of one of the layers, explicitly so for the radiative interactions, and indirectly for all the material irreversibilities involved in maintaining thermal uniformity in each layer. The second law of thermodynamics is laid down in two versions, one of which is the well-known Clausius-Duhem inequality, the other being a modern version known as the entropy inequality. By maximizing the material entropy production rate, a state may be selected that always fulfills the Clausius-Duhem inequality. Some formally possible steady states, while violating the latter, still obey the entropy inequality. In terms of Earth's climate, global entropy production rates exhibit extrema for any "greenhouse effect". However, and only insofar as the model be accepted as representative of Earth's climate, the extrema will not be found to agree with observed (effective) temperatures assignable to both the atmosphere and surface. This notwithstanding, the overall entropy production for the present greenhouse effect on Earth is very close to the maximum entropy production rate of a uniformly warm steady state at the planet's effective temperature. For an Earth with a weak(er) greenhouse effect the statement is no longer true.

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“…However, we certainly can speak of energy and entropy velocity fields, which constitute generalized winds even if that may seem strange for a radiative transfer problem, not to mention strange from the standpoint of classical fluid mechanics. Radiative entropy transfer was probably introduced to the atmosphere/meteorology literature first in Essex [1984b]. Perhaps the definitive modern comprehensive physical treatment can be found in Essex and Kennedy [1999].…”

Section: Generalized Windsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Does laboratory‐scale physics obstruct the development of a theory for climate?

Essex

2013

JGR Atmospheres

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[1] Despite best efforts, there still is no physical theory for climate based on the physics of the laboratory regime (i.e., fluid mechanics, radiative transfer, classical thermodynamics, etc.). This paper builds from previous discussions on how laboratory-regime assumptions may lock our current theoretical efforts into the laboratory regime and how we might get around this problem. Using ultralong time photographic exposures (known as solargraphs) for inspiration, it draws into question classical thinking about intensive thermodynamic variables for theoretical climate purposes while using the fact that physical flows remain well defined even for climate regimes. These flows are characterized here as "generalized wind." A simple example based on radiative energy and entropy transfer illustrates how these generalized wind fields can partially replace what is lost in moving away from laboratory-regime physics. These winds are shown to carry the dynamics in a modified form of radiation-like fluid dynamics that, together with radiation, might be possible to close in climate regimes.Citation: Essex, C. (2013), Does laboratory-scale physics obstruct the development of a theory for climate?,

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Radiation and the Irreversible Thermodynamics of Climate

Cited by 53 publications

References 0 publications

Nonequilibrium thermodynamics and maximum entropy production in the Earth system

Nonequilibrium thermodynamics and maximum entropy production in the Earth system

On the Clausius-Duhem Inequality and Maximum Entropy Production in a Simple Radiating System

Does laboratory‐scale physics obstruct the development of a theory for climate?

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