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An extremal principle for a one‐dimensional climate model
Author(s) -
Lin Charles A.
Publication year - 1982
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1029/gl009i006p00716
Subject(s) - maximization , constraint (computer aided design) , energy balance , zonal and meridional , distribution (mathematics) , energy (signal processing) , general circulation model , statistical physics , physics , mathematics , mathematical optimization , mathematical analysis , thermodynamics , geology , climate change , atmospheric sciences , geometry , statistics , oceanography
An extremal principle is formulated and applied to a one‐dimensional energy balance model. The principle is based on the maximization of the generation of available potential energy, and reduces to a maximization of the correlation between heating and temperature deviation. The maximization is subject to a constraint of global energy balance, and makes no reference to a dynamical transport mechanism. The maximizing temperature distribution has a larger meridional gradient than the observed temperature distribution. Our results suggest the general circulation operates at nearly its maximum efficiency.

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