Thermodynamics – sounds complicated? It should not! Because it deals with one of the most central aspects of how the Earth system functions: that processes perform work! And this work maintains the dynamics of the Earth system, shaping climate, the hydrologic cycle, and other systems. I am back in Firenze giving two lectures on 4th and 5th of June, also accessible online. More infos in this blogpost.
<meet.google.com/sgf-jjhb-azn>
<meet.google.com/mif-afxy-sef>
I will give two lectures at the Department of Earth Sciences at the University of Florence in Italy:
The first part “The Earth at work” is held on 04 June, 14:30-16:30, and will deal with the basics, demonstrates how it applies to different systems, and shows application to climate, particularly the major factors to understand temperatures and global warming. Link: <meet.google.com/sgf-jjhb-azn>
The second part “The work of water” on 05 June, 11:00-13:00, applies thermodynamics to the hydrological cycle, evaporation, water balances, aridity and how the hydrological cycle changes with global warming. Link: <meet.google.com/mif-afxy-sef>
Thanks to Antonella and Caterina for setting this up again!
Background material
I have written quite a bit of the material that is covered, although I also include some new material, e.g., on atmospheric dryness, that we are currently in the process of writing up. If you are interested in reading more, there is the book (Kleidon, 2016) published by Cambridge Universtity Press, as well as three papers that provide overviews/summaries: Kleidon (2010), a follow-up of Kleidon (2024), as well as a review paper (Kleidon 2023).
There is also a Youtube playlist on these topics, although the videos are in German (you may use autotranslate).
Earthsystem.org 