A Thermodynamic Hypothesis to Reconcile Optimality Principles for Flow Processes in Geosystems

This letter proposes a new thermodynamic hypothesis that states that a nonlinear natural system that is not isolated and involves positive feedbacks tends to minimize its resistance to the flow process through it that is imposed by its environment. It allows for a reconciliation of the two well-known and seemingly inconsistent optimality principles: the minimization of the energy expenditure rate for a river basin, and the maximization of entropy production in the Earth-atmosphere system. We also demonstrate that the hypothesis is consistent with water flow behavior in saturated and unsaturated porous media.