Climate change, in the framework of the Constructal Law

Here we present a simple and transparent alternative to the complex models of earth's thermal behaviour under time-changing conditions. We show the one-to-one relationship between changes in atmospheric properties and time-dependent changes in temperature and its distribution on earth. The model accounts for convection and radiation, thermal inertia and changes in albedo ( ρ ) and greenhouse factor ( γ ). The constructal law is used as the principle that governs the evolution of fl ow configuration on earth. The model showed that for two time-dependent scenarios, (δ ρ =0.002; δ γ =0.011) and (δ ρ =0.002; δ γ =0.005) the predicted equatorial and polar temperature increases and the time scales are (∆TH =1.16 K; ∆TL =1.11 K; 104 years) and (0.41 K; 0.41K; 57 years), respectively. A continuous model of temperature variation was used to predict the thermal response of the Earth's surface to changes bounded by δ ρ =δ γ and δ ρ =−δ γ . The poleward heat current reaches its maximum in the vicinity of 35° latitude, accounting for the position of the Ferrel cell between the Hadley and Polar Cells.