Thermodynamic Efficiency and Entropy Production in the Climate System

Details Thermodynamic Efficiency and Entropy Production in the Climate System Thermodynamic Efficiency and Entropy Production in the Climate System

2009-01-14

arxiv.org/abs/0901.1993v2

Phys. Rev. E 80, 021118 (2009)

Physics

Atmospheric and Oceanic Physics

13 pages; revised version

Scientific paper

10.1103/PhysRevE.80.021118

We present a new outlook on the climate system thermodynamics, studying some of its macroscopic properties in terms of the 1st and 2nd laws of thermodynamics. We review and clarify the notion of efficiency of the climate system by constructing formally an equivalent Carnot engine with efficiency eta, and show how the Lorenz energy cycle can be framed in a macro-scale thermodynamic context. Then, by exploiting the 2nd law, we prove that the lower bound to the entropy production is eta times the integrated absolute value of the internal entropy fluctuations. An exergetic interpretation is also proposed. Finally, the controversial maximum entropy production principle is re-interpreted as requiring the joint optimization of heat transport and mechanical work production. These results provide new tools for climate change analysis and for climate models' validation.

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