In Defence of the Biotic Pump

Authors

  • Peter Paul Bunyard

    Independent Scientist, Bodmin, PL30 5NW, UK (Formerly at El Instituto de Estudios y Servicios Ambientales de la Universidad Sergio Arboleda (IDEASA), Universidad Sergio Arboleda, Bogotá 110311, Colombia)
  • Ali Bin Shahid

    Independent Scientist, Islamabad 45730, Pakistan
  • Rob de Laet

    Independent Thinker, Campaigner, and Member of the Ecorestoration Alliance & Global Evergreening Alliance, Amsterdam, 1054HT, Netherlands

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.30564/jasr.v8i1.9887
Received: 9 December 2024; Revised: 9 January 2025; Accepted: 12 January 2025; Published Online: 17 January 2025

Abstract

The biotic pump theory of Anastassia Makarieva and Victor Gorshkov invited considerable controversy when published in 2007. Experiments carried out by Bunyard et al. on the relationship between airflow and water vapour condensation and employing the physics of ideal gases to determine absolute humidity and energy flows, indicate that the physical processes underpinning the biotic pump theory are correct and must play a significant role in determining regional and global weather patterns. Further evidence is given showing that the energies associated with condensation correlate with measured airflow. Given the role of the biotic pump in generating flying rivers over the Amazon Basin, deforestation can result in hydrological collapse. How close to that point in time can now be determined. An annual precipitation of 1800 mm is close to the threshold when rainfall is insufficient to sustain the forests. Experiments on different types of vegetation, measuring vapour emissions as latent heat, indicate the degree to which plants cool their environment by means of transpiration. By regulating the rate of transpiration plants respond to ambient temperature and prevent overheating. Forests in particular can help cool the Earth’s surface. In conclusion. the invention of the atmospheric heat engine in 1700 illustrates the power of condensation to drive atmospheric air flows and its functioning illustrates the physics underpinning the biotic pump.

Keywords:

Biotic Pump; Hydrological Cycle; Global Warming; Angiosperm evapotranspiration

References

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How to Cite

Bunyard, P. P., Shahid, A. B., & de Laet, R. (2025). In Defence of the Biotic Pump. Journal of Atmospheric Science Research, 8(1), 41–64. https://doi.org/10.30564/jasr.v8i1.9887

Issue

Vol. 8 , Iss. 1 (January 2025)

Article Type

Article

License

Copyright © 2025 Peter P. Bunyard , Ali Bin Shahid , Rob de Laet

Creative Commons License

This is an open access article under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0) License.

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