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Hydrology and Earth System Sciences 2009

Abstract

In their paper "Biotic pump of atmospheric moisture as driver of the hydrological cycle on land", Makarieva and Gorshkov (Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 11, 1013-1033, 2007) derive from "previously unstudied" properties of atmospheric water vapor, the existence of a hitherto unknown "evaporative force". From this, a novel physical principle is deduced, according to which low-level air flows from regions with weak, to regions with strong evaporation. As such, natural forests are claimed to "suck in" moist air from the ocean, a process labeled the "biotic pump of atmospheric moisture".

This commentary focuses on the physical foundations of the Biotic Pump Theory (BPT). It is shown that the "evaporative force" on which the theory is built, is not supported by basic physical principles. The problem of moisture transport and its dependence on vegetation cover considered by Makarieva and Gorshkov is certainly important, but cannot be solved along the lines proposed by them.

Details

Title
Comment on "Biotic pump of atmospheric moisture as driver of the hydrological cycle on land" by A. M. Makarieva and V. G. Gorshkov, Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 11, 1013-1033, 2007
Author
C. A. Meesters, A. G.; Dolman, A. J.; Bruijnzeel, L. A.
First page
1299
Publication year
2009
Publication date
2009
Publisher
Copernicus GmbH
ISSN
10275606
e-ISSN
16077938
Source type
Scholarly Journal
Language of publication
English
ProQuest document ID
907829511
Copyright
Hydrology and Earth System Sciences 2009