'Biotic pump’ theory could explain how forests effect weather, wind and climate

Mongabay Newscast

The biotic pump theory has been controversial in the climate science community ever since Anastassia Makarieva and Victor Gorshkov published their paper about it to the journal Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics in 2010.

If true, the theory sheds light on how the interior forests of vast continents influence wind and the water cycles that supply whole nations, flipping traditional hydrological and atmospheric science on its head.

Anastassia Makarieva joins this episode to discuss the theory and its implications for future climate modeling with co-host Rachel Donald.

Want more? Read a related Amazon-specific interview with Makarieva and Antonio Nobre here.

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Image: Physicist Anastassia Makarieva co-developed the biotic pump theory of how forests direct the movement of moisture. Image ZED/Grifa Filmes.

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Timecodes

(00:00:00) Introduction

(00:02:41) Understanding the Biotic Pump Theory

(00:09:38) Tipping Points

(00:15:31) The Climate Regulating Function of Ecosystems

(00:25:51) Lagging Behind the Data

(00:33:20) Building a Different Climate Model

(00:41:04) Addressing the Controversy

(00:45:41) Territory, Boundaries and Water

(00:52:13) Credits