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Related Concept Videos

Second Law of Thermodynamics00:53

Second Law of Thermodynamics

The Second Law of Thermodynamics states that entropy, or the amount of disorder in a system, increases each time energy is transferred or transformed. Each energy transfer results in a certain amount of energy that is lost—usually in the form of heat—that increases the disorder of the surroundings. This can also be demonstrated in a classic food web. Herbivores harvest chemical energy from plants and release heat and carbon dioxide into the environment. Carnivores harvest the chemical energy...
Second Law of Thermodynamics02:49

Second Law of Thermodynamics

In the quest to identify a property that may reliably predict the spontaneity of a process, a promising candidate has been identified: entropy. Processes that involve an increase in entropy of the system (ΔS > 0) are very often spontaneous; however, examples to the contrary are plentiful. By expanding consideration of entropy changes to include the surroundings, a significant conclusion regarding the relation between this property and spontaneity may be reached. In thermodynamic models, the...
Entropy within the Cell01:22

Entropy within the Cell

A living cell's primary tasks of obtaining, transforming, and using energy to do work may seem simple. However, the second law of thermodynamics explains why these tasks are harder than they appear. None of the energy transfers in the universe are completely efficient. In every energy transfer, some amount of energy is lost in a form that is unusable. In most cases, this form is heat energy. Thermodynamically, heat energy is defined as the energy transferred from one system to another that is...
The Second Law of Thermodynamics01:14

The Second Law of Thermodynamics

In the quest to identify a property that may reliably predict the spontaneity of a process, a promising candidate has been identified: entropy. Scientists refer to the measure of randomness or disorder within a system as entropy. High entropy means high disorder and low energy. To better understand entropy, think of a student’s bedroom. If no energy or work were put into it, the room would quickly become messy. It would exist in a very disordered state, one of high entropy. Energy must be put...
Entropy02:39

Entropy

Salt particles that have dissolved in water never spontaneously come back together in solution to reform solid particles. Moreover, a gas that has expanded in a vacuum remains dispersed and never spontaneously reassembles. The unidirectional nature of these phenomena is the result of a thermodynamic state function called entropy (S). Entropy is the measure of the extent to which the energy is dispersed throughout a system, or in other words, it is proportional to the degree of disorder of a...
Entropy01:18

Entropy

The first law of thermodynamics is quantitatively formulated via an equation relating the internal energy of a system, the heat exchanged by it, and the work done on it. A quantitative formulation of the second law of thermodynamics leads to defining a state function, the entropy.
When an ideal gas expands isothermally, the disorder in the gas increases. From the molecular perspective, the gas molecules have more volume to move around in.
Consider an infinitesimal step in the expansion, which...

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Single-throughput Complementary High-resolution Analytical Techniques for Characterizing Complex Natural Organic Matter Mixtures
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Published on: January 7, 2019

Maximum entropy production in environmental and ecological systems.

Axel Kleidon1, Yadvinder Malhi, Peter M Cox

  • 1Max-Planck-Institut für Biogeochemie, Hans-Knöll-Strasse 10, 07745 Jena, Germany. akleidon@bgc-jena.mpg.de

Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological Sciences
|April 7, 2010
PubMed
Summary

The principle of maximum entropy production (MEP) offers a new framework for understanding complex biosphere-atmosphere interactions. This approach helps model Earth systems by analyzing how energy and mass are exchanged and dissipated.

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Area of Science:

  • Earth System Science
  • Thermodynamics
  • Ecology

Background:

  • The biosphere-atmosphere system involves complex, irreversible processes driving global biogeochemical cycles and energy balance.
  • These processes generate entropy, a key concept in thermodynamics.

Discussion:

  • The principle of maximum entropy production (MEP) posits that systems far from equilibrium adopt states maximizing energy dissipation and entropy production.
  • This issue explores MEP applications across atmospheric circulation, hydrology, vegetation, and ecosystem dynamics.

Key Insights:

  • MEP provides a unifying thermodynamic lens to analyze diverse biosphere-atmosphere interactions.
  • Applications span from cloud formation and vegetation effects to ecosystem-level energy and mass exchange.

Outlook:

  • MEP demonstrates potential for enhanced understanding and modeling of the Earth system.
  • Further research is needed to explore the limitations and constraints of applying MEP to complex environmental systems.