The Greenhouse Péclet Number: Radiative Opacity as Void Condition and the Thermodynamic Inevitability of Climate Drift

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Authors: Anthony W. Eckert
Cited by: 0

Abstract

Formally establishes that the greenhouse effect is a void condition: CO₂ increases IR opacity, making the atmosphere opaque to outgoing radiation and driving heat accumulation via drift-dominated transport. Tipping points (ice-albedo feedback, AMOC shutdown, permafrost thaw) are V* crossings — T4 population amplification cascades with a single dimensionless control parameter Pe. The conjugacy theorem shows climate monitoring and climate intervention compete for the same information budget. Constraint cost (T3) explains why stable climate requires continuous energy input from carbon sinks.

Fields of Study & Subjects

Climate variability and models Climate Change and Environmental Impact Earth Systems and Cosmic Evolution

Publication details

Journal / source
Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Publication date
26 February 2026
Language
EN
Document type
Preprint