Entropy is absorbed and emitted in the. atmosphere and in the litho- and hydrosphere of the earth by absorption and emission of radiation. The value of the total production rate of entropy may be decomposed into the production rates ofradiative entropy andof material entropy. Although the latter amounts to only 3,4 % of the total, the material entropy production rate is the one that is relevant to meteorology, life science and ecology. Civilization accounts for less than 1 % of the material entropy production.