caa a22 4500 605472300 CHVBK 20210128100337.0 cr unu---uuuuu 210128e20151201xx s 000 0 eng 10.1007/s00382-015-2553-x doi (NATIONALLICENCE)springer-10.1007/s00382-015-2553-x Thermodynamic disequilibrium of the atmosphere in the context of global warming [Elektronische Daten] [Junling Huang, Michael McElroy] The atmosphere is an example of a non-equilibrium system. This study explores the relationship among temperature, energy and entropy of the atmosphere, introducing two variables that serve to quantify the thermodynamic disequilibrium of the atmosphere. The maximum work, W max , that the atmosphere can perform is defined as the work developed through a thermally reversible and adiabatic approach to thermodynamic equilibrium with global entropy conserved. The maximum entropy increase, $$(\Delta S)_{max}$$ ( Δ S ) m a x , is defined as the increase in global entropy achieved through a thermally irreversible transition to thermodynamic equilibrium without performing work. W max is identified as an approximately linear function of $$(\Delta S)_{max}.$$ ( Δ S ) m a x . Large values of W max or $$(\Delta S)_{max}$$ ( Δ S ) m a x correspond to states of high thermodynamic disequilibrium. The seasonality and long-term historical variation of W max and $$(\Delta S)_{max}$$ ( Δ S ) m a x are computed, indicating highest disequilibrium in July, lowest disequilibrium in January with no statistically significant trend over the past 32years. The analysis provides a perspective on the interconnections of temperature, energy and entropy for the atmosphere and allows for a quantitative investigation of the deviation of the atmosphere from thermodynamic equilibrium. Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg, 2015 Thermodynamic disequilibrium nationallicence Energy nationallicence Entropy nationallicence Temperature nationallicence Global warming nationallicence Huang Junling School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, 29 Oxford Street, 02138, Cambridge, MA, USA aut McElroy Michael School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, 29 Oxford Street, 02138, Cambridge, MA, USA aut Climate Dynamics Springer Berlin Heidelberg 45/11-12(2015-12-01), 3513-3525 0930-7575 45:11-12<3513 2015 45 382 https://doi.org/10.1007/s00382-015-2553-x text/html Onlinezugriff via DOI BK010053 XK010053 XK010000 Metadata rights reserved Springer special CC-BY-NC licence nationallicence 1 research-article jats NATIONALLICENCE NATIONALLICENCE NL-springer NATIONALLICENCE 856 40 https://doi.org/10.1007/s00382-015-2553-x text/html Onlinezugriff via DOI NATIONALLICENCE 700 1- Huang Junling School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, 29 Oxford Street, 02138, Cambridge, MA, USA aut NATIONALLICENCE 700 1- McElroy Michael School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, 29 Oxford Street, 02138, Cambridge, MA, USA aut NATIONALLICENCE 773 0- Climate Dynamics Springer Berlin Heidelberg 45/11-12(2015-12-01), 3513-3525 0930-7575 45:11-12<3513 2015 45 382