Greenhouse gases and climatic states of minimum entropy production

The hypothesis of minimum entropy production is applied to a simple one-dim ensional energy balance model and is analyzed for different values of the r adiative forcing due to greenhouse gases. The extremum principle is used to determine the planetary ''conductivity" and to avoid the "diffusive" appro ximation, which is commonly assumed in this type of model. For present cond itions the result at minimum radiative entropy production is similar to tha t obtained by applying the classical model. Other climatic scenarios show v isible differences, with better behavior for the extremal case.