Book of condolences
I met Vladimir several times during his visits to the IAP RAS in Moscow and during my visits to PIK when I was a Ph.D. student. Vladimir was a role model for me in the research world. He was a brilliant scientist, with strong competencies going both into the depth and breadth of the climate science, combining excellent domain knowledge, essential skills mastery, and the taste for innovation. But he was also a kind and sincere person, ready to help and give a piece of advice, sharing both his valuable scientific expertise and life wisdom. I keep the warmest feelings of those moments spend together with Vladimir and of him as a person.
My sincere condolences for the family.
Dmitry Khvorostyanov
28.10.2023
Valdimir Petoukhov was the master mind behind the atmospheric module of CLIMBER. With his idea of developing a statistical-dynamical model of the atmosphere, the CLIMBER model became the first real Earth System model in which all components of the natural Earth system were interactively coupled and which could be run for multi-millennia climate simulations. No surprise, our first papers with CLIMBER were published in Nature and Science in 1998. Of course, many more exciting, pioneering papers followed in less glossy, but scientifically renowned journals.
Before I became head of the Climate System Department at PIK in 1996, I met Vladimir in a discussion on the way forward in climate system modeling at PIK, jointly with Andrey Ganopolski, Victor Brovkin and other Russian scientists. There, the decision was made to start CLIMBER-2. Later at PIK, I very much enjoyed discussing with Vladimir. His equation-loaded presentations were not always easy to digest, but certainly inspiring and scientifically sound. I really enjoyed Vladimir’s friendly and polite way of discussing science. I will always remember Vladimir as a great colleague and a great scientist.
Martin Claussen
13.10.2023
I was very saddened by the news. My deepest condolences to Vladimir’s family, friends and colleagues. It is a great loss for all of us. At PIK, in the early 2000s, Vladimir and I had quite a few, long conversations about climate, science, philosophy, this, that and everything. Ideas for collaboration were many but never got around turning any of them into reality. I expect we were both busy attending other matters. I am rather sceptical about the idea of a life beyond but, if there is one, I certainly look forward to pursuing our discussions together. That would keep us occupied for a while. When I left Potsdam, Vladimir sent me a farewell message containing Byron’s beautiful lines: “Fare thee well! and if for ever, Still for ever, fare thee well.” It is now my turn to reciprocate in sorrow. Fare thee well, Vladimir.
Dr Miguel Ángel Morales Maqueda
11.10.2023
I was very honored to work with Vladimir during my PhD time at PIK from 2011 to 2015. He was pivotal in introducing causal inference to climate research and our joint papers wouldn't have found a wider acceptance in the climate community without him. In the years since that time I would often remember the depth of his knowledge and, at the same time, his humbleness in sharing it. It was always a pleasure to walk from A51 over to his office in A62 to learn about atmospheric dynamics and discuss about how to interpret causal graphs. His ideas and contributions to science will remain and we will always remember his kind and inspiring personality.
My heartfelt condolences are with his family and friends.
Jakob Runge
9.10.2023
Although I had already met Vladimir in Moscow, the fact that we happened to be at the same time in the same project at IIASA in 1992 was what is now called a low probability, high impact event. This event did indeed change the trajectory of my scientific career, and brought me into the field of Earth system modelling. As a result of many fruitful discussions, Vladimir and I concluded that we not only could, but we should, develop a new class of models which would allow us to conduct research that was previously thought impossible with existing climate models. The work which we started at IIASA was completed in Potsdam several years later, and the first model of the CLIMBER family was put into operation. Needless to say, that, without Vladimir, CLIMBER would never have been developed. Vladimir had a unique breadth of knowledge not only in atmospheric physics but also in other areas of climate dynamics. He had solutions for all complex issues related to this new model development. And if something did not work properly, he never lost his spirit and quickly found a solution for the problems. With Vladimir's passing, we have lost a scientist with such uniquely diverse knowledge and exceptional scientific intuition, but the influence of his ideas on science will be long-lasting.
My sincere condolences to the members of his family.
Andrey Ganopolski
09.10.2023
I have known Vladimir Petoukhov for over 30 years. We first met at IIASA in the mid 90's and then at PIK in 1994 when our group started working on the CLIMBER model. His focus has always been on writing governing equations for the atmosphere, developing parameterizations for atmospheric dynamics. The key to his approach was to average the high-frequency dynamics in a statistical way and write equations for atmospheric fluxes on scales larger than a day. This approach makes the atmospheric model two to three orders of magnitude faster than the conventional approach used in general circulation models. While full-scale models are able to compute decades in a day, his model was able to run thousands of years in the same amount of time. This fundamental breakthrough allowed us to look at the Earth system as a holistic system that integrates the dynamics of the atmosphere, ocean, land, and carbon cycle. I worked with Vladimir for a particularly long time to study the multistability of the Sahara. He developed a box model for the atmosphere that extends existing approaches and allows us to explain results from a complex model. He was very persistent and attentive to detail, and this formed the basis for a successful solution.
Vladimir was a pleasure not only to work with, but also to share an office with. We had long discussions around the question "what is to be done?", which is always essential for Russian intellectuals. Vladimir was a very attentive listener, always ready to gently join the conversation. He was also very protective of his family, and it was always evident how important family was to him.
His quality of being inquisitive and willing to take on challenging tasks was incredible and inspired many colleagues, including myself. I will always remember Vladimir Petoukhov as a very friendly colleague, extremely competent in his field, willing to help, eager to be at the forefront of science and sometimes to make the impossible possible.
Я знал Владимира Петухова более 30 лет. Впервые мы встретились в IIASA в середине 90-х годов, а затем в PIK в 1994 году, когда когда наша группа начала работать над моделью CLIMBER. Он всегда был сосредоточен на написании уравнений для атмосферы, разработке параметризаций для атмосферной динамики. Ключевым моментом его подхода является осреднение высокочастотной динамики статистическим способом и написание уравнений для атмосферных потоков на масштабах более суток. Такой подход позволяет сделать модель атмосферы на два-три порядка быстрее, чем обычный подход, используемый в моделях общей циркуляции. В то время как полномасштабные модели способны рассчитывать десятилетия в день, его модель смогла прогнать тысячи лет за то же время. Этот фундаментальный прорыв позволил взглянуть на земную систему как на целостную систему, объединяющую динамику атмосферы, океана, суши и углеродного цикла. Особенно долго я работал с Владимиром над изучением мультистабильности Сахары. Он разработал модель для атмосферы, расширяющую существующие подходы и позволяющую объяснить результаты, полученные на сложной модели. Он был очень настойчив и внимателен к деталям, и это послужило основой для успешного решения.
С Володей было приятно не только работать, но и делить с ним кабинет. У нас были долгие дискуссии вокруг вечно актуального для русской интеллигенции вопроса "что делать?". Он был очень внимательным слушателем, всегда готовым мягко присоединиться к беседе. Он также очень бережно относился к своей семье, и всегда было видно, как важна для него семья.
Я всегда буду помнить Владимира Петухова как очень дружелюбного коллегу, чрезвычайно компетентного в своей области, готового помочь, всегда стремящегося оказаться на переднем крае науки, а иногда и сделать невозможное возможным. Его умение быть пытливым и готовым взваливать на свои плечи сложные задачи было невероятным и вдохновляло многих коллег, включая меня. Светлая ему память.
Victor Brovkin
07.10.23
I had a great pleasure to work with Vladimir Petoukhov for many years, both in Russia and in Germany. He was my 'scientific father' and my close friend despite of large difference in our ages. He taught me a lot in the field of climate modelling. However, the most important thing which I learned from him was a passion for science, because Science was not just a business for him - it was the most important part of the Vladimir's life. Another issue which I learned from him is to treat all people with warmth and with a real interests in their thoughts.
Now, when Vladimir is passed away, I am sure that his scientific ideas will keep alive among us and will direct our scientific efforts. I guess, this would be the best memory for Vladimir - the memory that he wanted the most.
Alexey Eliseev
07.10.2023
I am deeply saddened by the loss of Vladimir Petukhov, a remarkable scientist who dedicated his life to studying Atmospheric Physics. Vladimir's exceptional research capabilities are evident in his significant contributions to the Statistical-dynamical modelling of long-term climate processes. His passion for science truly inspired me, and his work on the Quasiresonant amplification of planetary waves and Northern Hemisphere weather extremes was truly extraordinary. Vladimir will be remembered as a brilliant scientist and a wise mentor who always supported young researchers. His contributions to science will be recognized for generations to come, and his remarkable legacy will never be forgotten.
I extend our heartfelt condolences to his family and friends.
Elena Surovyatkina
06.10.2023
Receive my sincere condolences from Kenya, this is Keshoe a young climate activist from Kenya. I am also part of PIK institute family during this sad moments. I truly take this chance to express my inspiration and knowledge l have acquired from the reknowm scientists including our beloved and mentor late Vladimir, may he rest in paradise. He has truly left a mark to more generations to come. Sorry for this, we are together. Stronger together.
05.10.2023
