ABSTRACT
CHAPTER 13 This chapter proposes a Fourth Law of Thermodynamics, also called ELT in Chapter 9, to describe how an ecosystem will develop away from thermodynamic equilibrium as a consequence of an energy (exergy) flow through the system. At this stage it should be considered as a hypothesis. If a system receives a through-flow ofexergy (1) the system will utilise this exergy flow to move away from thermodynamic equilibrium, (2) more than one pathway is offered to move away from thermodynamic equilibrium, the pathway yielding most stored exergy (measured in 11m2 or 11m3) by the prevailing conditions, i..e., with the most ordered structure and the longest distance to thermodynamic equilibrium, will have a propensity to be selected.
