Articles tagged with Peat
Bigger trees in peat bogs indicate greater fire risk, as they shade out protective sphagnum moss and pull moisture from the ground. Researchers found that even small trees can pose a threat, with those just 5 metres tall posing the greatest danger.
Researchers analyzed 560 European peat bog samples to study how they respond to different temperatures, precipitation levels, and air pollution. They found that functional redundancy allows the ecosystem to survive despite changing species due to climatic conditions.
A study published in Nature Communications suggests that peatland plants are better adapted to climate change than previously thought. Despite rising temperatures and changing atmospheric conditions, the plant community in peatlands can replace missing species with new ones having similar functions.
Climate change threatens tropical peat swamps, which once removed carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Peatland forests in Southeast Asia have been disappearing due to clear-cutting and drainage projects, now potentially destroying forested peatlands.
The Cuvette Centrale peatlands in the central Congo Basin cover 145,500 square kilometres, locking in 30 billion tonnes of carbon. These peatlands store the equivalent of three years of the world's total fossil fuel emissions.
A recent study suggests that carbon stored in deep northern peatlands is less susceptible to warming, which could be beneficial for the environment. The researchers found that surface peat did emit more methane gas when warmed, but deep peat remained stable and did not release additional greenhouse gases.
Researchers analyzed sediments from a Tanzanian peat bog to reconstruct the region's ecosystem over 1,200 years. The study found that forest biodiversity remains relatively stable despite human activity, but climate change poses a threat to its future.
The world's peat bogs, once waterlogged repositories of dead moss, are being converted into fuel-packed fire hazards that can burn for months and generate deadly smoke. Research shows that peat mining, drainage, and global warming have made a growing number of the world's bogs dry and vulnerable to fire.
Researchers found that desert mangroves in Mexico's Baja California store nearly 30% of the region's belowground carbon, exceeding estimates. The study highlights the importance of mangrove conservation and ecosystem services in mitigating climate change.
Research at the University of Leicester found that carbon emissions from tropical peatlands in Indonesia vary significantly depending on fire type and location. The study revealed that peatlands closer to canals have a higher probability of high-frequency fires, releasing harmful carbon emissions into the atmosphere.
A new study uses laser-based measurements to estimate carbon dioxide emissions from tropical peatland fires, revealing that the amount of CO2 released depends on previous fire history. The research provides valuable insights into the devastating impact of climate change on global warming.
Researchers found stratigraphic evidence of subsidence during large earthquakes beneath salt marshes in California's Humboldt Bay. Microfossil data analysis enabled more accurate estimates of subsidence, refining earthquake models that match observed measurements. New plant macrofossils provide tighter constraints on past earthquake ti...
A new strain of yeast has been discovered that can effectively remove toxic substances from wastewater. Yarrowia lipolytica Y-3492 was found to be highly active against nitro compounds, including those used in explosives and certain medications.
Climate change is affecting UK's blanket bogs, impacting rare upland bird species like dunlin, golden plover, and red grouse. The loss of crane fly prey due to summer droughts could lead to a 50% decline in dunlin numbers, 30% in golden plover, and 15% in red grouse by 2051-80.
A new study by the University of Minnesota and Union of Concerned Scientists found that tropical peatland carbon losses from oil palm plantations may be significantly higher than previously estimated, with actual rates nearly twice as high as official estimates. This suggests improved strategies for measuring greenhouse gas emissions i...
A new study challenges the notion that boreal peatlands are a potential source of carbon emissions from global warming. The researchers found that oxygen exposure time, rather than temperature increases, plays a more significant role in determining peat decomposition.
Duke University scientists have discovered a previously unknown dual mechanism that slows peat decay and reduces CO2 emissions from peatlands. The naturally occurring mechanism was found in 5,000-year-old pocosin bogs and may occur in other regions as well.
Researchers are studying peat fire emissions, which are a major contributor to carbon emissions and climate change. The study aims to understand the impact of peatfire smoke on human health and the climate.
New research highlights the growing threat of smoldering peat fires, which can produce large amounts of carbon and worsen air quality. As temperatures rise, peat-rich regions worldwide become increasingly susceptible to drying and burning.
A new study published in Nature Geoscience highlights the devastating impacts of peat fires, which can burn for days and weeks, producing severe air quality issues and triggering respiratory problems. The study finds that peat-rich regions will become more susceptible to drying and burning with a changing climate.
A study has found that cation exchange capacity varies by pine bark batch, with differences in particle size distribution being a key factor. Substrate pH had no effect on CEC, while adding sphagnum peat did not increase composite CEC. Growers can improve nutrient retention and pH stability by analyzing their substrates for CEC.
A study published in the University of Leeds has shown that heather burning on moorland has negative impacts on peat hydrology, river water chemistry, and ecology. The findings indicate a deeper water table, increased carbon release, and decreased diversity and population sizes of invertebrates in rivers draining from burned areas.
Agricultural fires in Borneo clear land for palm oil plantations, releasing huge amounts of smoke and contributing to climate change. The fires can also cause severe respiratory problems due to the presence of particulate matter and toxic chemicals.
Archaeological evidence suggests human colonization of the Faroe Islands took place between the 4th to 6th centuries AD, contradicting the traditional Viking narrative. This finding has implications for understanding the colonization of similar island groups worldwide.
Land-clearing blazes in Indonesia are fueled by the palm-oil and pulpwood industries, releasing greenhouse gases that contribute to climate change. The fires can remain underground for hours before igniting again, making firefighting difficult.
A Princeton University study reveals that endangered species, such as Sumatran orangutans and Javan leopards, are increasingly taking up residence in swamp forests in Africa and Asia. These areas often lack food sources and fresh water, yet provide a crucial habitat for these animals.
A new species of wirerush has been discovered in the peatlands of northern New Zealand. The species, Empodisma robustum, exhibits unique ecological adaptations that enable it to thrive in nutrient-poor environments. This discovery sheds light on the diversity and ecology of the genus Restionaceae.
Research by Douglas Woolford and Mike Flannigan suggests that peat fires in Canada are becoming increasingly frequent and intense due to climate change. The study finds that the forest fire season is lengthening, and the risk of peat fires is increasing, with potentially devastating consequences for the environment.
Growstones, an aggregate made from waste glass, has been shown to increase air-filled pore space in substrates more effectively than perlite and parboiled rice hulls. The study found that Growstones can be used as a substitute for these materials in greenhouse crop production, with improved water-holding capacity and bulk density.
Scientists at Bangor University discover that climate-induced droughts can lead to prolonged CO2 release from peatlands, potentially lasting a decade. This has significant implications for the environment, including habitat loss, species extinction, and decreased water quality.
A new study found that peatlands will continue to sequester their huge deposits of carbon and methane under moderate climate change conditions. The research used laboratory simulations to study the decomposition of wet bog peat, showing that carbon release slows down in deeply buried peat.
A new study by University of Guelph professor Merritt Turetsky and colleagues found that draining northern wetlands leads to severe peatland wildfires, releasing nine times as much carbon into the atmosphere. This discovery highlights the importance of cumulative impacts on peatland ecosystems and their role in the global carbon cycle.
A US EPA study has found that peat wildfire smoke is associated with a significant increase in emergency room visits for respiratory and cardiovascular effects. The study discovered a 37% rise in ER visits for people experiencing symptoms of heart failure during a period of dense smoke exposure.
Research found that plant growth retardants had no effect on plant growth rate or stem length when used with a rice hull substrate, similar to a traditional peat and perlite mix. The study suggests that producers can employ PGR drench strategies without worrying about reduced efficacy due to the presence of rice hulls.
Indonesia aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, but contradictions in laws, regulations, and customary norms hinder progress. The country's forest management policies create hotspots of confusion over what constitutes 'peat' and 'natural forest', leading to ongoing conflicts between industry, government, and local communities.
A study by Purdue University found that rice hulls can be used as a sustainable substitute for perlite in growing media, reducing the need for plant growth regulators and energy-intensive mining processes. The findings have potential to increase profits for rice growers and reduce costs for greenhouse plant growers.
New research reveals that early plants overcame an evolutionary hurdle by utilizing sugars from the environment, contrary to previous assumptions. This discovery has significant implications for global carbon cycling models, suggesting a more complex role for mixotrophy in plant growth and development.
Scientists develop a new technique to measure spatial patterning in peatland surfaces, enabling improved monitoring of damage caused by human activity. Airborne laser scanning instruments can detect fine-scale structures like hummocks and hollows, critical for tracking climate change.
The study found that peatland fires in Indonesia released up to 900 million metric tons of CO2 in 2006, equivalent to 16% of deforestation worldwide emissions. Peatlands store enormous amounts of organic carbon, and human activities like drainage and deforestation make them vulnerable to fire.
Researchers evaluate composted dairy manure as a substitute for peat in container plant propagation, showing promising results. The study demonstrates that cowpeat-based substrates have physical and chemical properties similar to commercial peat substrates and support healthy root growth.
Researchers have evaluated five materials as partial peat substitutes, finding that coconut fibers and pine bark are the most suitable options. These alternatives performed as well or better than standard Sphagnum peat in terms of plant growth and ornamental quality.
A new analysis suggests that warmer temperatures could cause significant loss of carbon from shallow and deep peat bogs, with potential losses ranging from 40% to 86%.
The decline of world wetlands could compound global warming, releasing billions of tonnes of carbon into the atmosphere. Wetlands store 10-20% of Earth's terrestrial carbon and slow organic material decay.
Researchers found high levels of heavy nitrogen and carbon isotopes in peat samples from the Tunguska disaster region, supporting the meteorite theory. The study suggests that increased concentrations of iridium and nitrogen in the relevant peat layers also support this theory.
Research by McMaster University suggests peat and vegetation can slow permafrost melting, preserving northern regions. However, local disturbances like fires can accelerate thaw.
West-Siberian peatlands have counteracted the greenhouse effect by storing more CO2 than releasing methane over the past 10,000 years. A new calculation method reveals non-drained peatlands will become crucial net storage areas for atmospheric greenhouse gases even under global warming.
Researchers found that northern peatlands released massive amounts of methane gas, contributing to global warming after the ice age. The study suggests a more complex relationship between climate change and natural processes.
Climate change is contributing to the release of mercury stored in northern wetlands, which can become toxic in food chains. Wildfires are unleashing this mercury at levels up to 15 times greater than previously calculated.
A Senate committee hearing explored the cause of levee failures in New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina. The investigation found that a soft, spongy layer of swamp peat underneath some levee sections may have contributed to breaches, and further analysis is needed to determine its extent.
Research by University of Illinois Chicago scientists reveals steady rise in sea level over the past 8,000 years, challenging a hypothesis that sea levels were higher 5,000 years ago. The study uses peat deposits to confirm steady sea level rise and emphasizes the need for better predictions to prepare for coastal erosion.
New research reveals that Siberian peat bogs originated suddenly around 11,500 years ago and have been absorbing vast amounts of carbon dioxide while releasing large amounts of methane. The findings suggest that thawing permafrost could release these trapped gases, leading to a significant shift in climate trends.
Researchers analyzed 14,000-year-old peat layers to track natural and human-induced lead emissions. The study found that human activity began altering atmospheric lead levels around 6,000 years ago and has continued to the present day.