Non-equilibrium thermodynamics, maximum entropy production and Earth-system evolution

Kleidon, Axel

doi:10.1098/rsta.2009.0188

Cited by 60 publications

(52 citation statements)

References 36 publications

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“…Hence, when we explore the applicability of MEP to the Earth system at the planetary level, this would most likely be reflected in a slow evolution towards states of higher planetary entropy production. Such a trend, in turn, could be used to reconstruct Earth's environmental conditions of the deep past (Kleidon 2009a(Kleidon , 2010. …”

Section: Entropy Production In the Earth Systemmentioning

confidence: 99%

A basic introduction to the thermodynamics of the Earth system far from equilibrium and maximum entropy production

Kleidon

2010

Phil. Trans. R. Soc. B

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The Earth system is remarkably different from its planetary neighbours in that it shows pronounced, strong global cycling of matter. These global cycles result in the maintenance of a unique thermodynamic state of the Earth's atmosphere which is far from thermodynamic equilibrium (TE). Here, I provide a simple introduction of the thermodynamic basis to understand why Earth system processes operate so far away from TE. I use a simple toy model to illustrate the application of non-equilibrium thermodynamics and to classify applications of the proposed principle of maximum entropy production (MEP) to such processes into three different cases of contrasting flexibility in the boundary conditions. I then provide a brief overview of the different processes within the Earth system that produce entropy, review actual examples of MEP in environmental and ecological systems, and discuss the role of interactions among dissipative processes in making boundary conditions more flexible. I close with a brief summary and conclusion.

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Section: Entropy Production In the Earth Systemmentioning

confidence: 99%

A basic introduction to the thermodynamics of the Earth system far from equilibrium and maximum entropy production

Kleidon

2010

Phil. Trans. R. Soc. B

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“…This approach has gained in prominence with the recent rise of Maximum Entropy concepts in physics, especially in the earth sciences (Whitfield 2005; Kleidon 2009Kleidon , 2010. It builds on the statistical mechanics foundation of thermodynamics, and seems therefore plainly incompatible with Georgescu-Roegen's critique of Boltzmann.…”

Section: The Problem Of the Contextuality Of Entropy: Fertile Ground mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Thus, the maximum power principle is treated as a correlate of the MEP principle. This view has been concisely developed by Kleidon (2009Kleidon ( , 2010 and states that open non-equilibrium systems such as the earth system will always manifest the tendency to approach the maximum entropy state, which is defined as the macroscopic state which is most probable, given energy and mass-balance constraints. This tendency is empirically complex because the respective manifold processes proceed in vastly different time scales.…”

Section: Fig 3: Observer Independent and Observer Relative Entropymentioning

confidence: 99%

The evolutionary approach to entropy: Reconciling Georgescu-Roegen's natural philosophy with the maximum entropy framework

Herrmann‐Pillath

2011

Ecological Economics

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Standard-Nutzungsbedingungen:Die Dokumente auf EconStor dürfen zu eigenen wissenschaftlichen Zwecken und zum Privatgebrauch gespeichert und kopiert werden.Sie dürfen die Dokumente nicht für öffentliche oder kommerzielle Zwecke vervielfältigen, öffentlich ausstellen, öffentlich zugänglich machen, vertreiben oder anderweitig nutzen.Sofern die Verfasser die Dokumente unter Open-Content-Lizenzen (insbesondere CC-Lizenzen) zur Verfügung gestellt haben sollten, gelten abweichend von diesen Nutzungsbedingungen die in der dort genannten Lizenz gewährten Nutzungsrechte. Terms of use: Documents in AbstractIn Georgescu-Roegen's classical, though controversial discussion of entropy in relation to economics, the dualism of mechanical and subjective time plays a pivotal role. I argue that this fundamental distinction also inheres modern approaches to maximum entropy. Following Searle, I introduce the ontological dualism of observer independent and observer relative facts, and show that the notion of entropy also manifests this dualism, in the sense of the contextuality of measurements in experimental settings. Extending on the notion of observer relativity, I argue that the MaxEnt principle can be generalized into a framework of analyzing the evolution of (biological, technological etc.) functions under natural selection, if functions are equated with inference devices. Then, observer relativity is function relativity. In hierarchical evolutionary systems, this corresponds to the Maximum Entropy Production Principle, in the sense that functional evolution approximates gradients of maximum dissipation of energy. Against this background, the Georgescu-Roegen dualism of time translates into the dualism of observer independent entropy, which is the object of MEPP, and observer relative entropy, which is the object of MaxEnt. Both are two aspects under which evolution in general and economic evolution in particular can be analyzed.

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“…Instead of envisaging the role of an observer who measures the entropy of a system and processes information, we see a sequence of evolving functions, which are coupled and nested in an increasingly complex way, such that the entire embedding system evolves into states with an increasing number and scope of constraints [74,76]. There is no way to get out of this process and adopt the perspective of an entirely exogenous observer (actually, Maxwell's demon).…”

Section: Figurementioning

confidence: 99%

“…That means, if the notion of observation is naturalized, then the epistemic aspect of the maximum entropy principle corresponds to the ontological aspect of maximum entropy production, in the sense that with properly identified macro-constraints, the observed system will also be in a state of maximum entropy production (this may correspond to Virgo's [75] proposal that the MEP principle relates with the problem of how to define the relevant system boundary). This argument stand aside the thermodynamic analysis of non-equilibrium systems that shows that those systems will maximize entropy, given a local variable with a local balance of flux and local sources [72,76].…”

Section: Evolving Functions and Maximum Entropy Productionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Entropy, Function and Evolution: Naturalizing Peircian Semiosis

Herrmann‐Pillath

2010

Entropy

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Abstract:In the biosemiotic literature there is a tension between the naturalistic reference to biological processes and the category of 'meaning' which is central in the concept of semiosis. A crucial term bridging the two dimensions is 'information'. I argue that the tension can be resolved if we reconsider the relation between information and entropy and downgrade the conceptual centrality of Shannon information in the standard approach to entropy and information. Entropy comes into full play if semiosis is seen as a physical process involving causal interactions between physical systems with functions. Functions emerge from evolutionary processes, as conceived in recent philosophical contributions to teleosemantics. In this context, causal interactions can be interpreted in a dual mode, namely as standard causation and as an observation. Thus, a function appears to be the interpretant in the Peircian triadic notion of the sign. Recognizing this duality, the Gibbs/Jaynes notion of entropy is added to the picture, which shares an essential conceptual feature with the notion of function: Both concepts are part of a physicalist ontology, but are observer relative at the same time. Thus, it is possible to give an account of semiosis within the entropy framework without limiting the notion of entropy to the Shannon measure, but taking full account of the thermodynamic definition. A central feature of this approach is the conceptual linkage between the evolution of functions and maximum entropy production. I show how we can conceive of the semiosphere as a fundamental physical phenomenon. Following an early contribution by Hayek, in conclusion I argue that the category of 'meaning' supervenes on nested functions in semiosis, and has a function itself, namely to enable functional self-reference, which otherwise mainfests functional break-down because of standard set-theoretic paradoxes. OPEN ACCESSEntropy 2010, 12 198 Keywords: information; functions; Jaynes' approach to entropy; observer relativity; maximum entropy production; evolution of functions; Peirce's concept of semiosis; semiosphere Even at the purely phenomenological level, entropy is an anthropomorphic concept. E.T. Jaynes

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Non-equilibrium thermodynamics, maximum entropy production and Earth-system evolution

Cited by 60 publications

References 36 publications

A basic introduction to the thermodynamics of the Earth system far from equilibrium and maximum entropy production

A basic introduction to the thermodynamics of the Earth system far from equilibrium and maximum entropy production

The evolutionary approach to entropy: Reconciling Georgescu-Roegen's natural philosophy with the maximum entropy framework

Entropy, Function and Evolution: Naturalizing Peircian Semiosis

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