theory (Schneider and Kay, 1994a; Kay and Schneider, 1994; Schneider and Sagan,
2005). This remote sensing work suggests that analysis of airborne remote sensing
energy flux data is a valuable tool for measuring the energy budget and energy
transformations in terrestrial ecosystems. Given the stated hypothesis, a more
developed ecosystem degrades more exergy, and the ecosystem temperature, R n /
K*, beta index, and thermal response number (TRN) are excellent candidates for
indicators of ecological integrity. The potential for these methods to be used for
remotely sensed ecosystem classification and ecosystem health/integrity evaluation is
apparent.
Recent advances in applying principles of nonequilibrium thermodynamics to
ecology provide fundamental insights into energy partitioning in ecosystems. Ecosystems are nonequilibrium systems, open to material and energy flows, which grow
and develop structures and processes to increase energy degradation. More developed
terrestrial ecosystems will be more effective at dissipating the solar gradient (degrading its exergy content).
Thermal energy theory results from work to understand ecological development.
[See Kay (2000) for an overview.] The research in ecological thermodynamics has
focused on linking physics and systems sciences with biology, especially linking the
science of ecology with the laws of thermodynamics. This research follows on the
observation that similar developmental processes are observed in ecosystems, from
small laboratory microcosms, to prairie grass systems, to vast forest systems and
ocean plankton systems. Such similar phenomenology has long suggested underlying
processes and rules for the development of ecological patterns of structure and
function (Odum, 1969). Furthermore, recent advances in nonequilibrium thermodynamics coupled with the investigation of self-organizing phenomena in different
types of systems (from simple convection cell systems to forested ecosystems) have
revealed that all self-organizing phenomena (including ecosystem development)
involve similar processes, processes which are mandated by the second law of
thermodynamics. This conclusion, as discussed below, provides a basis for a
quantitative description of ecosystem development (Fraser and Kay, 2004; Kay,
1991; Kay and Schneider, 1992; Schneider and Kay, 1993, 1994a, 1994b; Regier and
Kay, 1996).
The study of self-organization phenomena in thermodynamic systems is based on
systems that are open to energy or material flows and which reside in quasi-stable
states some distance from equilibrium, (Nicolis and Prigogine, 1977). Both nonliving
self-organizing systems (like convection cells, tornadoes, and lasers) and living selforganizing systems (from cells to ecosystems) are dependent on exergy (high-quality
energy) fluxes from outside sources to sustain their self-organizing processes. These
processes are maintained by the destruction of the exergy, that is, the conversion of the
high-quality energy flux into a flux of lower quality forms of energy. Consequently,
these processes increase the entropy of the larger “global” system in which the selforganizing system is embedded. Crucial insights into the dynamics of self-organizing
systems can be gained from examining the role of the second law of thermodynamics
in determining these dynamics.
48
THERMAL INFRARED REMOTE SENSING FOR ANALYSIS OF LANDSCAPE
2005). This remote sensing work suggests that analysis of airborne remote sensing
energy flux data is a valuable tool for measuring the energy budget and energy
transformations in terrestrial ecosystems. Given the stated hypothesis, a more
developed ecosystem degrades more exergy, and the ecosystem temperature, R n /
K*, beta index, and thermal response number (TRN) are excellent candidates for
indicators of ecological integrity. The potential for these methods to be used for
remotely sensed ecosystem classification and ecosystem health/integrity evaluation is
apparent.
Recent advances in applying principles of nonequilibrium thermodynamics to
ecology provide fundamental insights into energy partitioning in ecosystems. Ecosystems are nonequilibrium systems, open to material and energy flows, which grow
and develop structures and processes to increase energy degradation. More developed
terrestrial ecosystems will be more effective at dissipating the solar gradient (degrading its exergy content).
Thermal energy theory results from work to understand ecological development.
[See Kay (2000) for an overview.] The research in ecological thermodynamics has
focused on linking physics and systems sciences with biology, especially linking the
science of ecology with the laws of thermodynamics. This research follows on the
observation that similar developmental processes are observed in ecosystems, from
small laboratory microcosms, to prairie grass systems, to vast forest systems and
ocean plankton systems. Such similar phenomenology has long suggested underlying
processes and rules for the development of ecological patterns of structure and
function (Odum, 1969). Furthermore, recent advances in nonequilibrium thermodynamics coupled with the investigation of self-organizing phenomena in different
types of systems (from simple convection cell systems to forested ecosystems) have
revealed that all self-organizing phenomena (including ecosystem development)
involve similar processes, processes which are mandated by the second law of
thermodynamics. This conclusion, as discussed below, provides a basis for a
quantitative description of ecosystem development (Fraser and Kay, 2004; Kay,
1991; Kay and Schneider, 1992; Schneider and Kay, 1993, 1994a, 1994b; Regier and
Kay, 1996).
The study of self-organization phenomena in thermodynamic systems is based on
systems that are open to energy or material flows and which reside in quasi-stable
states some distance from equilibrium, (Nicolis and Prigogine, 1977). Both nonliving
self-organizing systems (like convection cells, tornadoes, and lasers) and living selforganizing systems (from cells to ecosystems) are dependent on exergy (high-quality
energy) fluxes from outside sources to sustain their self-organizing processes. These
processes are maintained by the destruction of the exergy, that is, the conversion of the
high-quality energy flux into a flux of lower quality forms of energy. Consequently,
these processes increase the entropy of the larger “global” system in which the selforganizing system is embedded. Crucial insights into the dynamics of self-organizing
systems can be gained from examining the role of the second law of thermodynamics
in determining these dynamics.
48
THERMAL INFRARED REMOTE SENSING FOR ANALYSIS OF LANDSCAPE