Publications

Publications are listed in reverse chronological order.

Unified physical theory for the biotic pump, hurricanes and tornadoes:

Makarieva A.M., Gorshkov V.G. (2009) Condensation-induced kinematics and dynamics of cyclones, hurricanes and tornadoes. Physics Letters A, 373, 4201-4205. Abstract. PDF (0.4 Mb).

Makarieva A.M., Gorshkov V.G. (2009) Condensation-induced dynamic gas fluxes in a mixture of condensable and non-condensable gases. Physics Letters A, 373, 2801-2804. Abstract. PDF (0.1 Mb).

Biotic pump and modern meteorology:

Makarieva A.M., Gorshkov V.G. (2009) Reply to A. G. C. A. Meesters et al.'s comment on "Biotic pump of atmospheric moisture as driver of the hydrological cycle on land". Hydrology and Earth System Sciences, 13, 1307-1311. Abstract. PDF (0.3 Mb). Discussion.

Three commentaries that reflect the status quo of the biotic pump theory as of April 2009:

Biotic Pump is driven by condensation, HESSD 6, S59-S68 (2009)
Considerations of turbulent friction, ACPD 8, S11826-S11832 (2009)
Forest evaporation, wind & soil recharge, HESSD 6, S191-S198 (2009)

Application of the biotic pump theory to some problems of atmospheric circulation, including hurricanes and tornadoes:

Makarieva A.M., Gorshkov V.G., Li B.-L. (2008) On the validity of representing hurricanes as Carnot heat engine. Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics Discussions, 8, 17423-17437. Abstract. PDF (0.4 Mb). Print version (0.4 Mb). Interactive discussion (open until 14 November 2008).

Gorshkov V.G., Makarieva A.M. (2008) The osmotic condensational force of water vapor in the terrestrial atmosphere. Preprint No. 2763, Petersburg Nuclear Physics Institute, Gatchina, 43 pp. Abstract. PDF (0.4 Mb).

Biotic pump of atmospheric moisture was first described in PNPI Preprint No. 2655 (in English and in Russian), then published in Hydrology and Earth System Sciences Discussions, and, after Discussion, in the final form in Hydrology and Earth System Sciences.

Gorshkov V.G., Makarieva A.M. (2007) Biotic pump of atmospheric moisture as driver of the hydrological cycle on land. Hydrology and Earth System Sciences, 11, 1013-1033. Abstract. PDF (1 Mb).

Gorshkov V.G., Makarieva A.M. (2006) Biotic pump of atmospheric moisture as driver of the hydrological cycle on land. Hydrology and Earth System Sciences Discussions, 3, 2621-2673. Abstract. PDF (0.7 Mb). Screen version (1.0 Mb). Discussion (closed, 24 comments).

Gorshkov V.G., Makarieva A.M. (2006) Biotic pump of atmospheric moisture, its links to global atmospheric circulation and implications for conservation of the terrestrial water cycle. Preprint No. 2655, Petersburg Nuclear Physics Institute, Gatchina, 49 pp. Abstract. PDF (0.9 Mb).

The critical vertical lapse rate of air temperature, which is responsible for the non-equilibrium vertical distribution of atmospheric water vapor, was introduced and estimated in the following publications:

Makarieva A.M., Gorshkov V.G., Li B.-L. (2006) Conservation of water cycle on land via restoration of natural closed-canopy forests: implications for regional landscape planning. Ecological Research, 21, 897-906. Abstract. PDF (0.4 Mb). doi:10.1007/s11284-006-0036-6. Copyright 2006 The Ecological Society of Japan. Further reproduction or electronic distribution is not permitted.

Makarieva A.M., Gorshkov V.G., Losev K.S., Dovgalyuk Yu.A. (2004) Dependence of greenhouse effect on the concentration of greenhouse components in the Earth atmosphere in the presence of non-radiative energy flows. Transactions of the Earth Sciences Section of the Russian Academy of Natural Sciences, No. 12 (2004), 125-135. [in Russian] No abstract. PDF (0.8 Mb).

Makarieva A.M., Gorshkov V.G., Pujol T. (2003) Height of convective layer in planetary atmospheres with condensable and non-condensable greenhouse substances. Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics Discussions, 3, 6701-6720. Abstract. PDF (0.2 Mb). Screen version (0.3 Mb).

Gorshkov V.G., Makarieva A.M., Pujol T. (2002) Radiative-convective processes and changes of the flux of thermal radiation into space with increasing optical thickness of the atmosphere. Proceedings of the XXXVI Winter School of Petersburg Nuclear Physics Institute, February 25 – March 3, 2002 (Nuclear and Particle Physics), pp. 499-525. Abstract. PDF (1.2 Mb).

Partial pressure of water vapor cannot exceed the saturated one (red line), the latter drops twofold for each ten degrees of temperature decrease. In the static atmosphere water vapor partial pressure must drop twofold for each 9 km of height increment (blue line). When the red line finds itself below the blue line, as is the case at the observed lapse rate of 6.5 K/km, the atmosphere cannot be static. Water vapor condenses and disappears from the gas phase. There appears a dynamic air flow from areas with less intense condensation to areas where condensation is more intense.

This site is aimed to facilitate access to publications on biotic regulation, to illustrate quantitatively the urgent necessity of conserving natural ecosystems on a globally significant scale, and to stimulate thoughtful discussion of relevant issues. © 2001-2010, V.G. Gorshkov, A.M. Makarieva.