Carbon Cycling in Northern Peatlands

Carbon Cycling in Northern Peatlands
Author: Andrew J. Baird
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
Total Pages: 779
Release: 2013-05-03
Genre: Science
ISBN: 1118671635

Published by the American Geophysical Union as part of the Geophysical Monograph Series, Volume 184. Carbon Cycling in Northern Peatlands examines the role that northern peatlands play in regulating the atmospheric carbon budget. It summarizes current research in four interconnected areas: large-scale peatland dynamics and carbon cycling; plant and microbial dynamics and their effect on carbon fluxes to the atmosphere; methane accumulation in, and loss from, peatlands; and water and dissolved carbon fluxes through peatlands. The volume highlights include A thorough assessment of the challenges involved in incorporating carbon cycling in northern peatlands into global climate models; A conceptual model to examine the partitioning of terminal carbon mineralization into production of CO2 and CH4; A comprehensive review of the evidence for the accumulation of methane in deep and shallow peat; and A description of the hydrologic changes induced by peat harvesting and associated challenges in restoring altered peatlands to their natural hydrologic regime. Carbon Cycling in Northern Peatlands will be of interest to research scientists and graduate and undergraduate students, particularly those who wish to know more about the role of peatlands in the global carbon cycle and their role as modifiers of climate.

The Global Carbon Cycle

The Global Carbon Cycle
Author: David Archer
Publisher: Princeton University Press
Total Pages: 216
Release: 2010-11-01
Genre: Science
ISBN: 1400837073

A must-have introduction to this fundamental driver of the climate system The Global Carbon Cycle is a short introduction to this essential geochemical driver of the Earth's climate system, written by one of the world's leading climate-science experts. In this one-of-a-kind primer, David Archer engages readers in clear and simple terms about the many ways the global carbon cycle is woven into our climate system. He begins with a concise overview of the subject, and then looks at the carbon cycle on three different time scales, describing how the cycle interacts with climate in very distinct ways in each. On million-year time scales, feedbacks in the carbon cycle stabilize Earth's climate and oxygen concentrations. Archer explains how on hundred-thousand-year glacial/interglacial time scales, the carbon cycle in the ocean amplifies climate change, and how, on the human time scale of decades, the carbon cycle has been dampening climate change by absorbing fossil-fuel carbon dioxide into the oceans and land biosphere. A central question of the book is whether the carbon cycle could once again act to amplify climate change in centuries to come, for example through melting permafrost peatlands and methane hydrates. The Global Carbon Cycle features a glossary of terms, suggestions for further reading, and explanations of equations, as well as a forward-looking discussion of open questions about the global carbon cycle.

CARBON CYCLING AND RESTORATION IN TEMPERATE FORESTED PEATLANDS

CARBON CYCLING AND RESTORATION IN TEMPERATE FORESTED PEATLANDS
Author:
Publisher:
Total Pages:
Release: 2016
Genre:
ISBN:

Abstract : Forested peatlands are important natural ecosystems in the global carbon cycle due to their large carbon pools in both standing biomass and thick organic soils. Northern white cedar (cedar; Thuja occidentalis L.) peatlands are a common and ecologically important forested peatland type in the Great Lakes Region of North America. Despite the great potential of cedar peatlands to store carbon, very few studies have characterized the fluxes or cycling of carbon in these ecosystems. Furthermore, the last 100-150 years have seen a dramatic shift in the age distribution of cedar stands, due primarily to harvesting for forest products and overbrowsing by large deer herds in the region. The aims of this thesis are to 1) evaluate the feasibility of enrichment planting as a restoration option in cedar peatlands, and 2) characterize the production of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and the soil emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4) in a cedar peatland. Five restoration sites across northern Minnesota were used in investigating the conditions that fostered optimum height growth and survival of planted cedar seedlings. Planted cedar were found to grow and survive best when planted on hummocks. Additionally, a combination of protection from browse and high light maximized height growth of planted cedar. One site in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan was used for measurements of soil emissions of CO2 and CH4 and concentrations and characterizations of DOC. Soil CO2 emissions were correlated with water table level but CH4 emissions were not, possibly due to sufficiently high water tables throughout the measurement season. The quantity and quality of DOC changed with depth, suggesting that DOC lower in the peat profile was microbially sourced. When compared to other northern peatlands, soil CO2 emissions were relatively low, and soil CH4 emissions were approximately average. Dissolved organic carbon was also within the range of values from other northern peatlands, but was less aromatic and had a lower molecular weight. The results from this study suggest that the carbon dynamics of cedar peatlands are important. Additionally, enrichment planting appears to be a feasible strategy in restoration of degraded peatlands for at least two years after planting.

Boreal Peatland Ecosystems

Boreal Peatland Ecosystems
Author: R.K. Wieder
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
Total Pages: 448
Release: 2006-10-16
Genre: Science
ISBN: 3540319131

This is the first truly ecosystem-oriented book on peatlands. It adopts an ecosystems approach to understanding the world's boreal peatlands. The focus is on biogeochemical patterns and processes, production, decomposition, and peat accumulation, and it provides additional information on animal and fungal diversity. A recurring theme is the legacy of boreal peatlands as impressive accumulators of carbon as peat over millennia.

Carbon Cycling in Northern Peatlands

Carbon Cycling in Northern Peatlands
Author: Andrew J. Baird
Publisher: American Geophysical Union
Total Pages: 299
Release: 2009-01-12
Genre: Science
ISBN: 9780875904498

Published by the American Geophysical Union as part of the Geophysical Monograph Series, Volume 184. Carbon Cycling in Northern Peatlands examines the role that northern peatlands play in regulating the atmospheric carbon budget. It summarizes current research in four interconnected areas: large-scale peatland dynamics and carbon cycling; plant and microbial dynamics and their effect on carbon fluxes to the atmosphere; methane accumulation in, and loss from, peatlands; and water and dissolved carbon fluxes through peatlands. The volume highlights include A thorough assessment of the challenges involved in incorporating carbon cycling in northern peatlands into global climate models; A conceptual model to examine the partitioning of terminal carbon mineralization into production of CO2 and CH4; A comprehensive review of the evidence for the accumulation of methane in deep and shallow peat; and A description of the hydrologic changes induced by peat harvesting and associated challenges in restoring altered peatlands to their natural hydrologic regime. Carbon Cycling in Northern Peatlands will be of interest to research scientists and graduate and undergraduate students, particularly those who wish to know more about the role of peatlands in the global carbon cycle and their role as modifiers of climate.

Peatlands

Peatlands
Author: I.P. Martini
Publisher: Elsevier
Total Pages: 606
Release: 2007-03-28
Genre: Law
ISBN: 0080468055

In the past two decades there has been considerable work on global climatic change and its effect on the ecosphere, as well as on local and global environmental changes triggered by human activities. From the tropics to the Arctic, peatlands have developed under various geological conditions, and they provide good records of global and local changes since the Late Pleistocene.The objectives of the book are to analyze topics such as geological evolution of major peatlands basins; peatlands as self sustaining ecosystems; chemical environment of peatlands: water and peat chemistry; peatlands as archives of environmental changes; influence of peatlands on atmosphere: circular complex interactions; remote sensing studies of peatlands; peatlands as a resource; peatlands degradation, restoration, plus more. * Presents an interdisciplinary approach, with an emphasis on Earth Science, and addresses the need for intergration between subdisciplines and the developing of new approaches* Synthesizes the evolutionary, ecological, and chemical characteristics of major peatlands, as well as focuses on the environmental changes, from climate changes to surface ares changes due to human activities* Covers topical studies of worldwide interest and provides examples from many different countries

Recarbonization of the Biosphere

Recarbonization of the Biosphere
Author: Rattan Lal
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
Total Pages: 578
Release: 2012-03-28
Genre: Science
ISBN: 9400741596

Human activities are significantly modifying the natural global carbon (C) cycles, and concomitantly influence climate, ecosystems, and state and function of the Earth system. Ever increasing amounts of carbon dioxide (CO2) are added to the atmosphere by fossil fuel combustion but the biosphere is a potential C sink. Thus, a comprehensive understanding of C cycling in the biosphere is crucial for identifying and managing biospheric C sinks. Ecosystems with large C stocks which must be protected and sustainably managed are wetlands, peatlands, tropical rainforests, tropical savannas, grasslands, degraded/desertified lands, agricultural lands, and urban lands. However, land-based sinks require long-term management and a protection strategy because C stocks grow with a progressive improvement in ecosystem health.