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Applications of the Correlation Length
The correlation length is the system–dependent parameter, which defines the structure of the dominant current–carrying (electric or fluid) paths....
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Pressure Saturation Curves and the Critical Volume Fraction for Percolation
The pressure-saturation curves of porous media give fundamental information about the pore space. In equilibrium, ignoring effects due to hysteresis,...
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Effects of Multi-Scale Heterogeneity
It is generally agreed that problems with multi-scale heterogeneity present the biggest challenge to computation and understanding. A few such...
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2. Definition of Life
The definition of life is a long-standing debate with no general scientific consensus to be expected any time soon. The underlying problem is that...
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4. Energy Sources and Life
An external energy source is a necessary condition for life, because living systems require a flow of energy to organize materials and maintain a low...
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5. Building Blocks of Life
Life is based on complex chemistry yet only a few of all the available elements participate in most life-supporting reactions on Earth: carbon,...
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8 Entropy Production of Atmospheric Heat Transport
We examine the rate of entropy produced by the atmospheric general circulation and the hypothesis that it adjusts itself towards a macroscopic state...
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10 Thermodynamics of the Ocean Circulation: A Global Perspective on the Ocean System and Living Systems
In this chapter, we investigate thermodynamics in a global-scale open ocean circulation and discuss the physical properties of “living systems”, that...
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16 Temperature, Biogenesis, and Biospheric Self-Organization
We argue that the biosphere has evolved deterministically as a selforganized system, given the initial conditions of the Sun-Earth system. With...
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18 Insights from Thermodynamics for the Analysis of Economic Processes
The laws of thermodynamics constrain transformation of materials and energy, and thus have implications for economic processes. This paper provides...
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1 Entropy Production by Earth System Processes
Degradation of energy to lower temperatures and the associated production of entropy is a general direction for Earth system processes, ranging from...
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15 Coupled Evolution of Earth’s Atmosphere and Biosphere
Earth’s climate has remained conducive to life for more than 3.5 billion years, probably because of higher concentrations of CO2 and CH4 greenhouse...
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12 Entropy Production in the Planetary Context
In this paper I review some applications of nonequilibrium thermodynamics to planetary science. Of particular importance are the horizontal and...
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Mediterranean Sea and Humans: Improving a Conflictual Partnership
Intense human activities in regions surrounding enclosed and semi-enclosed seas such as the Mediterranean produce, in the long range, a strong...
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The Mediterranean Mercury Anomaly, a Geochemical or a BiologocalIssue
This chapter deals with the distribution and speciation of mercury in the water column, sediment and biota of both the Western and Eastern Basins of...
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Satellite Observations as Indicators of the Mediterranean Sea’s Health
Satellite observations of the marine environment allow the assessment of optical, thermal and structural properties, which can be inferred from the...
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Nutrient, Oxygen and Carbon Ratios, CO2 Sequestrationand Anthropogenic Forcing in the Mediterranean Sea
The climate and the environment, together with present tectonic morphology, constitute main constraints for the Mediterranean Sea geochemistry. The...
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Human Physical Stresses at Normal and Abnormal Cabin Pressures
Atmospheric pressure is reduced as a function of altitude, thus making hypoxia, the condition of oxygen deficiency, a concern for aviation. The...
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Occupational and Public Health Risks
Symptoms reported by passengers and crewmembers on commercial aircraft are described according to individual air quality-related sources,...
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Assessing Nitrogen Carrying Capacity for Blue Hill Bay, Maine: A Management Case History
As net-pen aquaculture in coastal waters grows, regulatory agencies must consider the potential for localized eutrophication. To avoid excessive...