Ecosystems develop structure and function that degrades the quality of the incoming energy more effectively. The ecosystem T and Rn/K* and TRN are excellent candidates for indicators of ecological integrity. The potential for these methods to be used for remote sensed ecosystem classification and ecosystem health/integrity evaluation is apparen

Fraser, Roydon F.

Luvall, Jeffrey C.

Rickman, Doug

NASA Technical Reports Server

Thermal Remote Sensing 
and the Thermodynamics 
of Ecosystem
Development
Jeffrey C. Luvall1, Doug Rickman1, and 
Roydon F. Fraser2
1NASA, Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, AL 
35812 jluvall@nasa.gov
2University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada 
N2L 3G1   
In Memory of James J. Kay 1954-
2004
https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=20110015753 2019-08-30T17:29:24+00:00Z
Task done
High quality energy input
(electricity)
Light
Heat
Sound
HeatHeat
Degraded 
energy
Image
Energy IN = Energy OUT Exergy IN »» Exergy OUT
Bénard Cells



Second law and ecosystems
(H.T. Odum was right! If maximum work principle 
means extract the most available work from the 
energy source.)
Make use of as much of the exergy as possible to 
perform tasks.  Make the most effective use of the 
energy.  Win!
What is the thermodynamic game?
Store energy
Increase Biomass
In thermodynamics, the exergy of a system is the maximum work 
available through any process that brings the system into 
equilibrium with a heat reservoir (environment). Exergy is the 
energy available for use. 









Quarry Clearcut Douglas Fir
Plantation
Natural
Forest
400 year old
Douglas Fir
Forest
T   (oC) 50.7 51.8 29.9 29.4 24.7
Rn/K* (%) 62 65 85 86 90
Beta Index 12.9 6.3 34.4 17.2 130.7
TRN 168 406 1631 788 1549
Beta Index: Spatial variability in the surface temperature
Thermal Response Number (TRN): For a given input of energy over  a given 
time, the change in surface temperature. Temporal variability.
Both are measures of inertia, so bigger means less  variability.

Nonequilibrium thermodynamic 
hypotheses concerning ecosystem 
development
• Exergy utilization will increase
– Rn/K*  will increase
– Surface temperature will decrease
• Internal equilibrium will increase
– Spatial variation in surface temperature will 
decrease (Beta index increases)
– Temporal variation in surface temperature will 
decrease (TRN increases)

Luvall, J. C. and H. R. Holbo, 1989  Measurement of short-term thermal responses  of 
coniferous forest canopies using thermal scanner data. Remote Sensing of Environment 
27:1-10.
Holbo, H. R. and J. C. Luvall, 1989. Modeling surface temperature distributions in forest 
landscapes. Remote Sensing of Environment 27:11-24.
Schneider, E.D, Kay, J.J., 1994, "Life as a Manifestation of the Second Law of 
Thermodynamics", Mathematical and Computer Modelling, Vol 19, No. 6-8, pp.25-48.
Fraser, R. A.; Kay, J. J., Quattrochi, D. A.; Luvall, J. C., eds., 2004.  "Exergy Analysis of Eco-
Systems: Establishing a Role for the Thermal Remote Sensing", Thermal Remote Sensing in 
Land Surface Processes (Taylor & Francis). 
Schneider, E. D. and D. Sagan. 2005. Into the Cool - Energy Flow, Thermodynamics, and 
Life, University of Chicago Press. 362 pp.


Thermal Remote Sensing and the Thermodynamics of Ecosystem Development

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