Open AccessAvailable Energy of Geophysical Systems
Author(s) -
Peter R. Ban
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
journal of the atmospheric sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.853
H-Index - 173
eISSN - 1520-0469
pISSN - 0022-4928
DOI - 10.1175/jas-d-13-023.1
Subject(s) - geophysical fluid dynamics , geophysics , entropy (arrow of time) , function (biology) , minification , geology , statistical physics , meteorology , physics , thermodynamics , mathematics , mathematical optimization , evolutionary biology , biology
An alternative derivation of the available energy for a geophysical fluid system is presented. It is shown that determination of the equilibrium temperature of the system by the minimization of an energy availability function is equivalent to that found by the vanishing of the entropy difference between the fluid and its equilibrium state. Applications to the atmosphere and the ocean are presented.