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Experimental drying intensifies burning and carbon losses in a northern peatland

Author

Listed:
  • M.R. Turetsky

    (University of Guelph)

  • W.F. Donahue

    (Water Matters Society of Alberta)

  • B.W. Benscoter

    (Florida Atlantic University)

Abstract

For millennia, peatlands have served as an important sink for atmospheric CO2 and today represent a large soil carbon reservoir. While recent land use and wildfires have reduced carbon sequestration in tropical peatlands, the influence of disturbance on boreal peatlands is uncertain, yet it is important for predicting the fate of northern high-latitude carbon reserves. Here we quantify rates of organic matter storage and combustion losses in a boreal peatland subjected to long-term experimental drainage, a portion of which subsequently burned during a wildfire. We show that drainage doubled rates of organic matter accumulation in the soils of unburned plots. However, drainage also increased carbon losses during wildfire ninefold to 16.8±0.2 kg C m−2, equivalent to a loss of more than 450 years of peat accumulation. Interactions between peatland drainage and fire are likely to cause long-term carbon emissions to far exceed rates of carbon uptake, diminishing the northern peatland carbon sink.

Suggested Citation

  • M.R. Turetsky & W.F. Donahue & B.W. Benscoter, 2011. "Experimental drying intensifies burning and carbon losses in a northern peatland," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 2(1), pages 1-5, September.
  • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:2:y:2011:i:1:d:10.1038_ncomms1523
    DOI: 10.1038/ncomms1523
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    Cited by:

    1. In-Won Kim & Axel Timmermann & Ji-Eun Kim & Keith B. Rodgers & Sun-Seon Lee & Hanna Lee & William R. Wieder, 2024. "Abrupt increase in Arctic-Subarctic wildfires caused by future permafrost thaw," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-11, December.
    2. E. Schuur & B. Abbott & W. Bowden & V. Brovkin & P. Camill & J. Canadell & J. Chanton & F. Chapin & T. Christensen & P. Ciais & B. Crosby & C. Czimczik & G. Grosse & J. Harden & D. Hayes & G. Hugelius, 2013. "Expert assessment of vulnerability of permafrost carbon to climate change," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 119(2), pages 359-374, July.
    3. Pindilli, Emily & Sleeter, Rachel & Hogan, Dianna, 2018. "Estimating the Societal Benefits of Carbon Dioxide Sequestration Through Peatland Restoration," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 154(C), pages 145-155.

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