Thermodynamics of Environment

Journal ofMining and Metallurgy, 36 (1-2)B (2000) 93 - 110

Letters to Editor

THERMODYNAMICS OF ENVIRONMENT

v. M. Zhukovsky

Chemistry Dept., Ural State University, 51 Lenin av., 620083, Ekaterinburg, Russia e-mail: [email protected]

(Received 10 November 1999; accepted 10January 2000)

Abstract

A possibility of non-equilibrium thermodynamic application to analysis of systems like living organisms - environment were considered. The significance ofthe human com munity interaction and coexisting with the biosphere were discussed. V.I. Vernadsky (1863 - 1945) conception oftransformation the biosphere into noosphere was considered.

Keywords: ecology, environment, thermodynamics, anthropogenic factor, biosphere, coevolution, noosphere.

1. Introduction

The environmental problems actually have overgrown problems of local industrial company, town, city or region. The transboundary transfer of pollutants over countries and continents makes these problems very important for humanity taken as a whole. The term ecology (from Greek oikos = house, residence, and logos = word, teaching) was introduced into scientific usage by E. Haeckel in 1866.

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Ecology was regarded as a part of biology, which studied an interaction of living organism and environment (dwelling place) (Fig. I). Modern concept of environment regards ecology as part of it.

Interaction ~ EmriroJtllleuW field

----Interaction

Fig. 1. The environmental field.

The environment involves both nonliving physical and chemical com ponents (sunlight, heat, moisture, wind, oxygen, carbon dioxide, nutrients in atmosphere, hydrosphere, soil) and living biological components (geneti cally identical bodies, each and all objects of vegetable life and animals). The terms ecology (environmental science) and economics have a common basis. Modern term environmental study, in particular, involves study of Nature economy. Living organism in its environment investigation uses different sci ence: climatology, hydrology, oceanography, physics, chemistry, geology and edaphology. Organism interaction study in the frames of ecology applies methods of ecology, ethology, taxonomy, physiology and mathe matical simulation. Genetically identical bodies, populations, community of species, ecosystems and biosphere can be considered as environmental object. It is generally recognized that modern ecology originates from C. Darwin. The main idea of evolution theory is an adaptation of living organ isms to environmental effects through the natural selection. Continual increase of human pressure to environment for going on the XXth century

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to made extension the operating of ecology field. In our days environmen tal science get a footing as scientific basis for environmental management and biological diversity (biota) protection. At the beginning of 1970's social ecology appeared, which studies on interaction of human civilization with environment and the ways of their preservation (Fig. 2). Interaction Industrial Military Social Moral 013 ;Movable ---=--t>board Interaction <:1---of action

Fig. 2. The environmental field ofmankind.

Social ecology considers various philosophical, social, ethical, eco nomical, geographical and some aspects. At present the problem of human survival, environment protection and public health appeared to be one ofthe most important for mankind. That is why the actions for solution of domes tic and international environmental problems, formation of ecological way of thinking are especially important. As the result international and nation al agency "Greenpeace" deprecates environmental pollution. Unfortunately their unconscious emotionality and exclamatory gives quite a few to replace scientific competence and decreases the efficiency of environmental activi ties. Human race genesis is a natural consequence of living substance evo lution or more exactly coevolution of living and nonliving substance in bio sphere (relatively thin zone of air, soil, and water on the Earth, which is capable to being us life). Hence mankind is part of nature and it exist according to the laws of nature.

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2. Thermodynamics method

Thorough study of the interaction of living organisms with environ ment thermodynamics method is very fruitful. In terms of thermodynamics every organism, biota and biosphere as whole should be described as non isolated open strong non-equilibrium system, which exist only in stationary state when its internal parameters are stabilized on the level of survival. Stationary state stability can be preserved only as a result of intensive exchange between living system and its environment by energy, entropy, matter and information (Fig.3). For description of these systems the non equilibrium thermodynamics should be used.

Environment (Biosphere)

Fig. 3. The intensive exchange ofliving system with its environment.

The second law of thermodynamics in R.Clausius form of equality-inequal ity can be presented as:

8Qe dS'2 (1) T where sign of equality is valid for reversible process and sign of inequality is valid for irreversible processes. In accordance with the 1. Prigogine postulate [1,2] total entropy varia tion for open systems can be as a result of exchange with its environment e i (dS ) or a result of internal irreversible processes (dS ):

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(2)

In each real processes dSi > 0, and at equilibrium dSi = O. For isolated sys tem dSe =0 and dS =dSi ~ O. The entropy growth rate (entropy production) dS i a=&~O (3) is basic attribute for the behavior of natural processes in real time scale. If the growth of the entropy in a system have as unique origin its inter nal processes, the growth of entropy is due to the thermodynamic potential decrease: i a= dS =~(dGJ ~O (4) dt T dt TP

The growth of the entropy for open systems functionally depend on motive force (Xi) and generating flows (J):

VI == To == LXiii> 0 (5) where tflis the dissipative function, Xi are the gradients of temperature, con centration, electric potential, thermodynamic potential etc., and J, - the flows of heat, substance, charge, the rate of chemical reaction etc., respec tively. The dissipative function for the irreversible evolutionary system can be only positive (Fa >0). At first glance biological systems functioning itself leads to contradiction with the second law of thermodynamics, because any living organism creation leads to spontaneous local ordering and consequently to the decrease of the entropy in the system. Though in Eq. (5) with the sum productions l..iX/i included one part of the productions can be less then zero (X/i < 0). Total sum is positive (l..iX/i >0) as a result of several conjunctive processes. Therefore in the situation like shown above local self-organization of matter becomes possibility. For example, thermal diffusion processes: (diff)Ta <0, (therm.)Ta >0, but (diff)Ta + (therm.)Ta >0.

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For the open systems stationary we have the Eq.

. dS ds' dS i (J' =a' + a' =- =--+ --=0 (6) dt dt dt where every addend (if and d) differ from zero. In accordance with the I. Prigogine theorem for stationary system (Fig. 4) ddldt

. dS i a' =--~ min (7) dt

(J'min ••••••••••••,;".:'"1'._-----

Fig. 4. Conversion system to stationary state.

The result of irreversible processes in open systems is entropy transfer from system to environment.

Fig. 5. The bifurcation.

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Eqs (5) - (7) are faithfully exact only for open close to equilibrium sys tems (L.Onsager linear approximation). Deviation from equilibrium results to Xi and J, growth, system can loose stability and disintegrate or leave the linear thermodynamics region without loss of overall stability. However strongly non-equilibrium systems can be non-linear. In bifurcation point (Fig.5) the systems come to new stability state, new dissipative structure is formed and the system structure transforms from simple to complex one [3,4],

3. Living organism and environment

The result of thermodynamic analysis shows that every living system is characterized with treatment (revised) function, namely can denature environment with entropy increase. Within all history of the Earth living organisms are very active in global element cycle (Fig. 6). As a result the essence of interaction between living matter with geo logical media, Earth landscape and atmosphere changed. Coral reefs and islands, calciferous rocks, soil, mine field of coal, oil and gas - are products of the revised (biogeochemical) function. In evolution process and envi ronment change the many kinds of living organisms were not adapted to changes and disappeared. According to the energy concept of evolution one genus can have advantages over the other ones to survive in natural selection processes if same have a mechanism on maximum reception energy and efficiency usage ones. The same principle is correct for information reception, con version and use. The man (Homo sapiens) is a product of evolution. After segregation from the animal world mankind created tools and obtained new powerful sources of energy (mineral fuel, natural water energy, nuclear energy). As a result the revised function of mankind increased in many thousand times. To-day mankind is the main actions factor in environment. Contrary to other living organisms, which adapted (coevaluated) to environment, mankind itself changes the environment (biosphere). However no one of biological

J.Min. Met. 36 (1-2)B 2000 99 Letters to Editor species, including man, has long term possibility to exceed boundaries of its ecological position which was determined by evolution of biosphere. By the end of the XXth century biophysical and biochemical equilibrium was dis turbed as a result of the activities of the mankind. This fact leads to stabili ty loss in the biosphere. Further anthropogenic pressure on environment puts forward the problem (some scientist have already done it) on the exis tence of mankind on Earth. The fatal question: "What to do?" is raised.

Fig. 6. Element circulation in biosphere.

4. From biosphere to noosphere

Principle question of principle was answered by V.I. Vemadsky [5]. As early as in the beginning of the XXth century, he formulated scientific back ground of the concept of community sustainable development of assumes a reasonable attitude to the nature. According to V.I. Vernadsky the biosphere is integral, open, stabilised dynamic system which interacts with outer space (Fig. 7).

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Fig. 7 Earth biosphere as open system.

Mankind and biosphere stability under strong conditions anthro pogenic influence can be provided in only by compensatory regime in bio sphere. In this situation in biosphere da(anth.) acanth.y ~ min, and (8) dt ~O

but non-linear process is extremely complex. The man differs from other living organisms by his intellect and abili ty to influence the interaction with environment and to reach coevolution regime. This regime can be achieved if the biosphere is transformed into the sphere of reason - noosphere. Vl. Vemadsky considered the conditions of the noosphere creation to be the discovery of the new energy sources, improvement of communica tion facilities and information exchange, equality of all people, exception of wars from social life, scientific and cultural association of the whole mankind. The global community on behalf of the representatives from 180 states, gathered in 1992 in Rio de Janeiro at the UN Conference on Environment and Development, has accepted the basic document"Agenda for the XXIst century". In its essence, this document reflects the turning-point in devel opment of the global community on the basis of economic efficiency, social security, and environmental safety. i.Min.Met. 36 (1-2)B 2000 101 Letters to Editor

5. Conclusions

The effectiveness of non-equilibrium thermodynamics methods appli cation for analysing the interactions in the system living matter - environ ment is shown. I believe that noosphere conception and mankind can be successful.

Acknowledgements

Many thanks to all the organizers for the invitation to prepare on arti cle in honor of Prof. J. Sestak 60th Birthday.

References

1. I.Prigogine, R.Defay, Chemical Thermodynamics, Longmans Green and Co., London - New York - Toronto, 1954. 2. I.Prigogine, Introduction to Thermodynamics of Irreversible Processes. Wiley Interscience, New York - London, 2nd Edition, 1962. 3. G.Nicolis, I.Prigogine, Self-Organization in Non-equilibrium Systems. From Dissipative Structures to Order Through Fluctuation. A. Wiley-Interscience Publication. John Wiley & Sons, New York - London - Sidney - Toronto, 1977. 4. E.Laslo. The Age of Bifurcation. Understanding the Changing World, OPA (Amsterdam), B.V, 1991. 5. VI. Vernadsky, Scientific Thought as a Planetary Phenomenon. Nongovernmental Ecological VI. Vernadsky Foundation, Noosphere Publishing House, Moscow, 1997.

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