ABSTRACT
If the eight conditions formulated in Section 5.6 are realized, it is assumed that carbonbased life and therefore more or less complex ecosystems will emerge. Far from thermodynamic equilibrium systems, ecosystems will, however, decompose and become a dull system without gradients and any structure, if they do not receive an inªow of free energy that can deliver the work energy needed for maintenance of the system far
from thermodynamic equilibrium. Ecosystems therefore have to be nonisolated, meaning open to an energy ªow. ey are actually open, meaning open to matter and energy. is leads to the obvious question: What will happen if the inªow of free energy is bigger than needed to cover the maintenance? is means in Equation (4.24) that
deEx/dt > diEx/dt (6.1)
e seasonal variations of the inªow of free energy by the solar radiation show clearly what is happening when the free energy ªow exceeds the need of free energy for maintenance. Ecosystems develop and grow during spring and summer.
