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MEP and planetary climates: insights from a two-box climate model containing atmospheric dynamics
1Mathematics Research Institute, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK. t.e.jupp@exeter.ac.uk
Summary
Planetary heat transport models with atmospheric dynamics show that maximum entropy production (MEP) states are similar to previous models without dynamics. This holds true unless a planet has low advective capability, impacting MEP state calculations.
Area of Science:
- Planetary Science
- Atmospheric Dynamics
- Thermodynamics
Background:
- Planetary heat transport is crucial for understanding climate.
- Previous models often simplified atmospheric dynamics.
- Maximum Entropy Production (MEP) is a principle used to model climate states.
Purpose of the Study:
- To extend a two-box planetary heat transport model by incorporating simple atmospheric dynamics.
- To investigate the influence of a dynamical constraint on MEP states.
- To compare model results with previous findings and numerical simulations.
Main Methods:
- Developed a two-box model for equator-to-pole heat transport, including atmospheric dynamics.
- Treated surface drag coefficient (CD) as a free parameter.
- Calculated solutions analytically using dimensionless parameters: atmospheric thickness (eta), rotation rate (omega), and advective capability (xi).
Main Results:
- Dynamically constrained MEP solutions match dynamically unconstrained ones when advective capability (xi) is sufficiently large.
- This identity holds for Earth, Mars, Titan, and Venus.
- Entropy production is independent of rotation rate (omega) if xi is large or omega is small.
- Dynamical constraints affect MEP states when xi is small, potentially relevant for extrasolar planets.
Conclusions:
- The inclusion of atmospheric dynamics does not alter MEP results for planets with high advective capability.
- The model provides insights into how planetary rotation and atmospheric properties influence heat transport and entropy production.
- The findings highlight the importance of advective capability in determining the impact of dynamical constraints on planetary climate states.
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