Thermodynamics and Equilibria in Earth System Sciences: An Introduction

Thermodynamics is needed to understand many processes on Earth, be they physical, chemical, or biological. Thermodynamics is critical to study the atmosphere (lapse rate, fohn winds, circulation), hydrosphere (latent and sensible heat, pressure dependence of freezing/boiling points), geosphere (geothermal gradients, mineral stability) and the biosphere (redox zonation, evolution of biogeochemical cycles). This introduction to thermodynamics and equilibria aims to provide the basic concepts of relevance for atmospheric, marine, climate, and environmental sciences and to prepare students for more advanced classes in physical chemistry, mineralogy, and petrology.
This is an open access book.

List of contents

Introduction.- The First Law: Work, Heat and Thermochemistry.- Entropy and the Second Law.- The Gibbs Free Energy.- Introduction to Equilibrium.- Acid-base Equilibria.- Redox Equilibria.

Product details

• Authors: Jack J Middelburg, Jack J. Middelburg
• Publisher: Springer, Berlin
• Languages: English
• Product format: Paperback / Softback
• Released: 04.04.2024
• EAN: 9783031534065
• ISBN: 978-3-0-3153406-5
• No. of pages: 88
• Dimensions: 155 mm x 5 mm x 235 mm
• Weight: 160 g
• Illustrations: VIII, 88 p. 17 illus., 16 illus. in color.
• Series: SpringerBriefs in Earth System Sciences
• Subject: Natural sciences, medicine, IT, technology > Geosciences > Geology