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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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Small-Scale Mantle Plumes: Imaging and Geodynamic Aspects
Columnar, upwelling masses of hot rock in the Earth’s mantle, called mantle plumes, are spectacular features of our planet because they supply the...
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A Combined Geophysical/Engineering Approach for the Seismic Safety of Long-Span Bridges
The spatial distribution of the resonance frequency of the sedimentary cover in the Cologne area was estimated by the horizontal-to-vertical spectral...
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4 Specific Features of Coupled Fluid Flow and Chemical Reaction
In many geologic processes, water-rock interactions are driven by continues supply of reactants provided by flowing groundwater. When water that...
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5 Fossil Hydrothermal Systems
Reactive transport modeling of the history of fossil hydrothermal systems provides the basis for understanding genesis of ore deposits as well as...
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International Standardisation of Ground Investigation and Testing Methods
Three committees of the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) and European Committee for Standardisation (CEN) prepare common...
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Some Basic Considerations about the Necessities and Possibilities of Cooperation between Civil Engineers and Engineering Geologists
The education of civil engineers and engineering geologists is different. While civil engineers are commonly educated and trained in mathematical and...
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Coring Performance to Characterise the Geology in the “Cran aux Iguanodons” of Bernissart (Belgium)
The “Cran aux iguanodons” of Bernissart is a sinkhole (or chimney caving) with a valuable paleontological deposit due to the exceptional quantity and...
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Site Investigation for Abandoned Lignite Mines in Urban Environment
The existence of shallow coal mining in urban environments poses a great danger to engineering works due to either the cree** subsidence at the...
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Engineering Geological Model of the Contact between Two Petrographic and Stratigraphic Units along the Zagreb-Split Highway, Croatia
The highway route Zagreb-Split, section through Lika region, was designed along the valley of the River Gacka. In this section the highway level line...
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Soil Investigations Requirements from the Construction Industry
When the majority of soil investigation methods concentrate on the characterization of the soil in terms of soil-structure interactions or structural...