Thermodynamic Estimate Of The Likelihood Of Life In The Solar System
Abstract
Life is taken to be a property of open thermodynamic systems which reduce the entropy of compounds taken from the environment. To support entropy reducing processes an environment must increase the entropy of the universe with time, the greater such entropy production the greater the likelihood of life. The entropy production of the planets is determined by the difference in the entropy between incident solar photons and reradiated thermal photons. Mass transport, which is necessary for life, is estimated in terms of atmospheric mixing for the various planets. A number of miscellaneous characteristics are also considered. Earth appears most favorable for life. Mars probably has primitive thermodynamic life in the form of crystal growth. Life on the other bodies in the solar system appears unlikely. © 1967.
Recommended Citation
J. P. Wesley, "Thermodynamic Estimate Of The Likelihood Of Life In The Solar System," BioSystems, vol. 1, no. 3, pp. 214 - 221, Elsevier, Jan 1967.
The definitive version is available at https://doi.org/10.1016/0303-2647(67)90059-7
Department(s)
Physics
International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)
0303-2647
Document Type
Article - Journal
Document Version
Citation
File Type
text
Language(s)
English
Rights
© 2023 Elsevier, All rights reserved.
Publication Date
01 Jan 1967
PubMed ID
6060178
