CLP

Abstract

Since the work of Onsager in the 1930s, Maximum Entropy Production (MaxEP) has been proposed in various guises as a thermodynamic selection principle governing the macroscopic behaviour of non-equilibrium systems. While some encouragingly realistic predictions have been obtained from MaxEP in a diverse range of non-equilibrium systems across physics, chemistry and biology – including climate systems – two outstanding questions have hindered its wider adoption as a mainstream predictive tool: What is the theoretical basis for MaxEP? And what is the appropriate entropy production to be maximised in any given problem? In this introductory talk I will summarise recent progress towards answering these questions, and outline some implications for the practical role of MaxEP in climate modelling.