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Atmos. Chem. Phys. Discuss., 8, 17423-17437, 2008
www.atmos-chem-phys-discuss.net/8/17423/2008/ doi:10.5194/acpd-8-17423-2008 © Author(s) 2008. This work is distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License. |
On the validity of representing hurricanes as Carnot heat engine
1Theoretical Physics Division, Petersburg Nuclear Physics Institute, 188300, Gatchina, St. Petersburg, Russia
2CAU-UCR International Center for Ecology and Sustainability, University of California, Riverside, CA 92521, USA
Abstract. It is argued, on the basis of detailed critique of published literature, that the existing thermodynamic theory of hurricanes, where it is assumed that the hurricane power is formed due to heat input from the ocean, is not physically consistent, as it comes in conflict with the first and second laws of thermodynamics. A quantitative perspective of describing hurricane energetics as that of an adiabatic atmospheric process occurring at the expense of condensation of water vapor that creates drop of local air pressure, is outlined.
Citation: Makarieva, A. M., Gorshkov, V. G., and Li, B.-L.: On the validity of representing hurricanes as Carnot heat engine, Atmos. Chem. Phys. Discuss., 8, 17423-17437, doi:10.5194/acpd-8-17423-2008, 2008.