Thermodynamics of the Earth and Planets

Intuitive yet mathematically rigorous introduction to thermodynamics of planetary processes for advanced students and researchers in Earth and planetary sciences.

Alberto Patiño Douce (Author)

9780521896214, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 25 August 2011

722 pages, 200 b/w illus. 10 tables 200 exercises
25.4 x 19.8 x 3.7 cm, 1.67 kg

'The work is an ideal textbook on planetary thermodynamics for advanced students in the Earth and planetary sciences.' Claudia-Veronika Meister, Zentralblatt MATH

This textbook provides an intuitive yet mathematically rigorous introduction to the thermodynamics and thermal physics of planetary processes. It demonstrates how the workings of planetary bodies can be understood in depth by reducing them to fundamental physics and chemistry. The book is based on two courses taught by the author for many years at the University of Georgia. It includes 'Guided Exercise' boxes; end-of-chapter problems (worked solutions provided online); and software boxes (Maple code provided online). As well as being an ideal textbook on planetary thermodynamics for advanced students in the Earth and planetary sciences, it also provides an innovative and quantitative complement to more traditional courses in geological thermodynamics, petrology, chemical oceanography and planetary science. In addition to its use as a textbook, it is also of great interest to researchers looking for a 'one stop' source of concepts and techniques that they can apply to their research problems.

1. Energy in planetary processes and the First Law of Thermodynamics
2. Energy sources in planetary bodies
3. Energy transfer processes in planetary bodies
4. The Second Law of Thermodynamics and thermodynamic potentials
5. Chemical equilibrium: using composition as a thermodynamic variable
6. Phase equilibrium and phase diagrams
7. Critical phase transitions
8. Equations of state for solids and the internal structure of terrestrial planets
9. Thermodynamics of planetary volatiles
10. Melting in planetary bodies
11. Dilute solutions
12. Non-equilibrium thermodynamics and rates of natural processes
13. Topics in atmospheric thermodynamics and radiative energy transfer
14. Thermodynamics of life
References
Index.

Subject Areas: Earth sciences, geography, environment, planning [R]