Linking non-equilibrium thermodynamics, maximisation & distributions in environmental systems

This CCSS colloquium on “Linking non-equilibrium thermodynamics, maximisation and distributions in environmental systems: basics and application to the hydrological cycle” was given by dr. Axel Kleidon from the Max Planck Institute for Biogeochemistry.

Dr. Axel Kleidon studied physics and meteorology at the University of Hamburg and Purdue University. He received his Ph.D. in 1998 in meteorology from the University of Hamburg. After his PostDoc at Stanford University he joined the faculty of the University of Maryland in 2001. Since 2006 he leads an independent research group at the Max-Planck-Institute for Biogeochemistry in Jena, Germany. In his research, he uses thermodynamics to quantify natural energy conversions within the Earth system and their limits, and applies this approach to understand atmosphere-biosphere interactions, Earth system responses to global change, and the natural limits of renewable energy.

Abstract
Environmental systems have in common that they are maintained in thermodynamic disequilibrium. Are there general thermodynamic optimality principles that govern their evolution? Here I provide some basics to describe these systems, aim to identify generalities and distinguish them between those that have variables that are normally distributed vs those that show power-law scaling. I illustrate this approach by applying it to the global hydrological cycle and how it changes with global climate change.