Article: Climate change, in the framework of the Constructal Law Journal: International Journal of Global Warming (IJGW) 2012 Vol.4 No.3/4 pp.242 - 260 Abstract: Here we present a simple and transparent alternative to the complex models of earth's thermal behaviour under time-changing conditions. We show the one-to-one relationship between changes in atmospheric properties and time-dependent changes in temperature and its distribution on earth. The model accounts for convection and radiation, thermal inertia and changes in albedo (ρ) and greenhouse factor (γ). The constructal law is used as the principle that governs the evolution of flow configuration on earth. The model showed that for two time-dependent scenarios, (δρ = 0.002; δγ = 0.011) and (δρ = 0.002; δγ = 0.005) the predicted equatorial and polar temperature increases and the time scales are (ΔTH = 1.16K; ΔTL = 1.11K; 104 years) and (0.41K;0.41K; 57 years), respectively. A continuous model of temperature variation was used to predict the thermal response of the Earth's surface to changes bounded by δρ = δγ and δρ = -δγ. The poleward heat current reaches its maximum in the vicinity of 35° latitude, accounting for the position of the Ferrel cell between the Hadley and Polar Cells. Inderscience Publishers - linking academia, business and industry through research

Title: Climate change, in the framework of the Constructal Law

Authors: M. Clausse; F. Meunier; A.H. Reis; A. Bejan

Addresses: Laboratoire de Génie des Procédés pour l'Environnement, l'Energie et la Santé (LGP2ES - EA 21), CNAM, ICENER, case 2D3P20, 292 rue St. Martin, 75141 Paris Cedex 03, France; ESIEE Paris, 2 boulevard Blaise Pascal Cité DESCARTES, BP 99 93162, Noisy le Grand CEDEX, France ' Laboratoire de Génie des Procédés pour l'Environnement, l'Energie et la Santé (LGP2ES - EA 21), CNAM, ICENER, case 2D3P20, 292 rue St. Martin, 75141 Paris Cedex 03, France ' Department of Physics and Evora Geophysics Centre, University of Évora, Ramalho, 59, 7000-67 1 Evora, Portugal ' Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708-0300, USA

Abstract: Here we present a simple and transparent alternative to the complex models of earth's thermal behaviour under time-changing conditions. We show the one-to-one relationship between changes in atmospheric properties and time-dependent changes in temperature and its distribution on earth. The model accounts for convection and radiation, thermal inertia and changes in albedo (ρ) and greenhouse factor (γ). The constructal law is used as the principle that governs the evolution of flow configuration on earth. The model showed that for two time-dependent scenarios, (δ_ρ = 0.002; δ_γ = 0.011) and (δ_ρ = 0.002; δ_γ = 0.005) the predicted equatorial and polar temperature increases and the time scales are (ΔT_H = 1.16K; ΔT_L = 1.11K; 104 years) and (0.41K;0.41K; 57 years), respectively. A continuous model of temperature variation was used to predict the thermal response of the Earth's surface to changes bounded by δ_ρ = δ_γ and δ_ρ = -δ_γ. The poleward heat current reaches its maximum in the vicinity of 35° latitude, accounting for the position of the Ferrel cell between the Hadley and Polar Cells.

Keywords: climate change; constructal law; temperature change; modelling; convection; radiation; thermal inertia; albedo; greenhouse factor; temperature variation; flow configuration.

DOI: 10.1504/IJGW.2012.049449

International Journal of Global Warming, 2012 Vol.4 No.3/4, pp.242 - 260

Received: 21 Apr 2012
Accepted: 26 Jun 2012
Published online: 13 Dec 2014 *

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Title: Climate change, in the framework of the Constructal Law

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