A general thermodynamic concept is presented for a synthetic system in which thermal reservoirs are connected through a non-linear system of mutual interaction, and of which entropy will increase at a possible maximum rate. Consequently, Paltridge's suggestion on maximum entropy increase by turbulent heat transport in the earth's climate system, as well as Malkus-Howard-Busse's suggestion on maximum energy dissipation in turbulent flows, is found to be rigorously explained by the single thermodynamic concept.


References
Busse, F. H., Bounds for turbulent shear flow, J. Fluid Mech., 41, 219fl240, 1970.

Essex, C., Radiation and the irreversible thermodynamics of climate, J. Atmos. Sci., 41, 1985 -1991, 1984.

Grassl, H., The climate at maximum entropy production by meridional atmospheric and oceanic heat fluxes, Q. J. Roy. Meteorol. Soc., 107, 153 - 166, 1981.

Howard, L. N., Heat transport by turbulent convection, J. Fluid Mech., 17, 405 - 432, 1963.

Li, J., and P. Chylek, Entropy in climate models. Part II: Horizontal structure of atmospheric entropy production, J. Atmos. Sci., 51, 1702 - 1708, 1994.

Malkus, W. V. R., The heat transport and spectrum of thermal turbulence, Proc. R. Soc. London, Ser. A, 225, 196 - 212, 1954.

Noda, A., and T. Tokioka, Climates at minima of the entropy exchange rate, J. Meteorol. Soc. Japan, 61, 894 - 908, 1983.

Ozawa, H., and A. Ohmura, Thermodynamics of a global- mean state of the atmosphere - A state of maximum entropy increase, J. Clim., 10, 441 - 445, 1997.

Paltridge, G. W., Global dynamics and climate - A system of minimum entropy exchange, Q. J. Roy. Meteorol. Soc., 101, 475 - 484, 1975.

Paltridge, G. W., The steady-state format of global climate, Q. J. Roy. Meteorol. Soc., 104, 927 - 945, 1978.

Pujol, T., and J. E. Llebot, Extremal principle of entropy production in the climate system, Q. J. Roy. Meteorol. Soc., 125, 79 - 90, 1999.

Sawada, Y., A thermodynamic variational principle in nonlinear non-equilibrium phenomena, Prog. Theor. Phys., 66, 68 - 76, 1981.

Stephens, G. L., and D. M. O' Brien, Entropy and climate. I: ERBE observations of the entropy production, Q. J. Roy. Meteorol. Soc., 119, 121 - 152, 1993.

P1 | P2 | P3 | P4 | P5 | P6 |