Editing Dissipative system (section)

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{{Short description|Thermodynamically open system which is not in equilibrium}}
A '''dissipative system''' is a thermodynamically [[open system (systems theory)|open system]] which is operating out of, and often far from, [[thermodynamic equilibrium]] in an environment with which it exchanges [[energy]] and [[matter]]. A [[tornado]] may be thought of as a dissipative system. Dissipative systems stand in contrast to [[conservative system]]s.

A '''dissipative structure''' is a dissipative system that has a dynamical regime that is in some sense in a reproducible [[steady state]]. This reproducible steady state may be reached by natural evolution of the system, by artifice, or by a combination of these two.