Non equilibrium thermodynamics and the production of entropy : life earth and beyond The present volume studies the application of concepts from non equilibrium thermodynamics to a variety of research topics. Emphasis is on the Maximum Entropy Production (MEP) principle and applications to Geoshere Biospher couplings. Written by leading researchers form a wide range of background the book proposed to give a first coherent account of an emerging field at the interface of thermodynamics geophysics and life scienes TOC:Entropy Production by Earth System Processes. Non Equilibrium Thermodynamics in an Energy Rich Universe. Stumbling Into the MEP Racket: An Historical Perspective. Maximum Entropy Production and Non Equilibrium Statistical Mechanics. Using Ecology to Quantify Organization in Fluid Flows. Cosmological and Biological Reproducibility: Limits on the Maximum Entropy Production Principle. Entropy Production in Turbulent Mixing. Entropy Production of Atmospheric Heat Transport. Water Vapor and Entropy Production in the Earth`s Atmosphere. Thermodynamics of the Ocean Circulation: A Global Perspective on the Ocean System and Living Systems. Entropy and the Shaping of the Landscape by Water. Entropy Production in the Planetary Context. The Free Energy Transduction and Entropy Production in Initial Photosynthetic Reactions. Biotic Entropy Production and Global Atmsophere Biosphere Interactions. Coupled Evolution of Earth`s Atmosphere and Biosphere. Temperature Biogenesis and Biospheric Self Organization. Entropy and Gaia: Is There a Link Between MEP and Self Regulation in the Climate Systm. Insights From Thermodynamics for the Analysis of Economic Processes