Carbon balance of UK peatlands and losses via the aquatic pathway

Dinsmore, Kerry. 2011 Carbon balance of UK peatlands and losses via the aquatic pathway. [Poster] In: 3rd British-German Frontiers of Science Symposium 2011, Kavli Royal Society International Centre, Buckinghamshire, UK, 12-15 May 2011. (Unpublished)

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Abstract/Summary

Are peatlands a carbon timebomb? Peatland ecosystems cover ~15% of the land area in the UK and store an estimated 2302 Mt carbon; worldwide they cover <3% of the total land area and represent an estimated 39% of the global terrestrial carbon pool. Although peatlands are currently considered carbon sinks, they are vulnerable to the effects of changing climate and land-use. A change in sink strength or in the worst case scenario, a switch to net emission could play a crucial role in the earth’s atmospheric chemistry and global warming potential. It is therefore becoming increasingly important to both accurately quantify the source/sink strength of peatlands and to understand what drives the individual flux terms within the budget. Here I will highlight the work currently taking place under the UKs ‘Carbon Catchment Initiative’ and in particular focus on the importance of quantifying and understanding carbon losses through surface watercourses.

Item Type:	Publication - Conference Item (Poster)
Programmes:	CEH Topics & Objectives 2009 - 2012 > Biogeochemistry
UKCEH and CEH Sections/Science Areas:	Billett (to November 2013)
Additional Keywords:	peat, carbon
NORA Subject Terms:	Ecology and Environment
Date made live:	17 Jun 2014 09:09 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/505766

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