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Trupp, A. (1999) Energy, Entropy: On the Occasion of the 100th Anniversary of Josef Loschmidt’s Death in 1895: Is Loschmidt’s Greatest Discovery Still Waiting for Its Discovery? Physics Essays, 12, 614-628.
https://doi.org/10.4006/1.3028792

has been cited by the following article:

• TITLE: Thermodynamic Equilibrium of the Atmosphere

  AUTHORS: Peter Stallinga

  KEYWORDS: Thermodynamics, Equilibrium, Maxwell-Boltzmann, Lapse Rate, Loschmidt

  JOURNAL NAME: Atmospheric and Climate Sciences, Vol.15 No.3, June 9, 2025

  ABSTRACT: One of the issues of Thermodynamics is the question of what exactly thermodynamic equilibrium means. It is often interpreted as thermal equilibrium. The question is if this is correct. This is especially relevant for the case of the atmosphere, where gravitational energy also plays a role, which might allow for temperature gradients in equilibrium. In order to answer this question, this work goes back to Boltzmann’s original ideas. As will be shown here, thermodynamic equilibrium also means thermal equilibrium in this case. Moreover, it will also be shown why a lapse rate (a linear drop of temperature with altitude) is observed in a mechanically stable atmosphere. The implications for climate research are discussed.