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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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Introduction
The Caspian Sea, the largest enclosed basin on the planet, is distinguished by special natural conditions, contains rich natural resources...
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Pollution of the Caspian Sea
The pollution of Caspian Sea waters and bottom sediments was described on the basis of long-term monitoring data from 1978 to 2004. It was shown...
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Introduced Species
Five species of diatom algae, ten species of epiphyte-fouling algae, seven species of plankton invertebrates, 21 benthic organisms and three...
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Natural and Artificial Radioactivity in the Rhine and Its Tributaries
Presently, natural and artificial radioactivity in the Rhine River does not present a radiological hazard to the population. On the contrary, the...
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Early Warning Strategies and Practices Along the River Rhine
In 1986, the International Commission for the Protection of the Rhine (ICPR) installed a Warning and Alarm Plan (WAP) in order to avert the dangers...
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Economic and International Legal Dimensions
The Caspian Region has abundant hydrocarbon resources (oil and gas), as well as biological resources (fish), particularly the unique sturgeon,...
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Pharmaceuticals in the River Rhine
Pharmaceuticals are introduced into the River Rhine mainly via wastewater and can be detected almost permanently in mixed samples taken over the...
