The BiosphereLong unknown in the West, The Biosphere established the field of biogeochemistry and is one of the classic founding documents of what later became known as Gaia theory. It is the first sustained expression of the idea that life is a geological force that can change Earth's landforms, its climate, and even the contents of its atmosphere. A complete, unabridged translation has never before been available in English. This edition - complete with extensive annotations, an introductory essay placing the work in its historical context and explaining its relevance to readers today, and a foreword cosigned by a stellar group of international experts - will be the definitive edition of this classic work. "What Darwin did for life through time, Vernadsky did for life through space on a geological scale". |
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Contents
The Biosphere in the Cosmic Medium | 39 |
The Biosphere as a Region of Transformation of Cosmic Energy | 41 |
The Empirical Generalization and the Hypothesis | 45 |
Living Matter in the Biosphere | 50 |
The Multiplication of Organisms and Geochemical Energy in Living Matter | 54 |
Photosynthetic Living Matter | 66 |
Some Remarks on Living Matter in the Mechanism of the Biosphere | 79 |
An Envelope of the Earth | 87 |
Life in the Hydrosphere | 120 |
Geochemical Cycles of the Living Concentrations and Films of the Hydrosphere | 128 |
Living Matter on Land | 136 |
The Relationship Between the Living Films and Concentrations of the Hydrosphere and Those of Land | 142 |
A Biographical Chronology | 145 |
Vernadskys Publications in English | 153 |
Bibliography | 154 |
Acknowledgments | 177 |
Living Matter of the First and Second Orders in the Biosphere | 97 |
The Limits of Life | 107 |
The Limits of Life in the Biosphere | 111 |
Index | 179 |
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Common terms and phrases
According active animals appear atmosphere atoms autotrophic bacteria become biosphere bodies bottom carbon changes chemical completely composition compounds concentrations concept connected considered contain continuous cosmic created crust depth determined Earth Earth's crust edition elements empirical energy entire envelopes example existence expressed fact field film force free oxygen gaseous geochemical geological green hydrosphere idea important inert influence iron kilometers known land layer less limits living matter living organisms mass mechanism medium meters Moscow multiplication nature noted observed occur ocean organisms origin Paris periods phenomena phenomenon planet plankton play possible powerful present pressure problem processes produced published quantity radiation reach regions remains result rocks role Russian scientific soil solar solar radiation species structure surface temperature term thermodynamic tion transformation translation University upper Vernadsky Vernadsky's vital whole York