2026/03/21 by Bernd von Mallinckrodt · 1 voice
Environmental Science · Physics and Astronomy · #Ecosystem dynamics and resilience #Complex Systems and Dynamics #Sustainability and Ecological Systems Analysis
paper · doi:10.5281/zenodo.19151876
openalex publication_date 2026/03/21 · openalex created_date 2026/03/22 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/01
This preprint introduces the Compression–Resonance Thermodynamic Index (CRTI), a candidate framework for operationalizing system viability in complex adaptive systems. The framework defines viability as the ratio T = R / Φ, where structural compression (Φ) captures entropy reduction relative to a maximum-entropy reference, and adaptive resonance (R) captures system–environment coupling via mutual information. The present work focuses on formal definitions, operationalization, and reproducibility. Each construct is translated into measurable proxies with explicit data requirements and a fully specified computational pipeline. Three illustrative domains (financial systems, ecological dynamics, and organizational systems) demonstrate computational feasibility using standard observational data. CRTI is positioned as a falsifiable candidate framework. It does not claim universality, and its predictive validity remains to be established through empirical testing across independent datasets, including negative results. This version (v1.0) establishes the methodological foundation for subsequent empirical validation and benchmarking against established early-warning signal approaches. complex systemsearly warning signalsinformation theorymutual informationShannon entropyregime shiftssystem resiliencenetwork dynamics