Carbon pools and accumulation in peatlands of the former Soviet Union

Abstract

To date, the areal extent, carbon pools, rate of carbon accumulation, and role of peatlands of the former Soviet Union (FSU) in the terrestrial carbon cycle has not been fully recognized. This is a consequence of the fact that many peatlands in the FSU, especially noncommercial peatlands, were never studied and properly mapped. An estimate of the areal extent, carbon pools, and rate of carbon accumulation in peatlands of the FSU obtained by interrelating a number of regional databases and maps, including formerly classified maps, is presented herein. Commercial peatlands were categorized by regional type which facilitated an evaluation of their age and quality. Noncommercial peatlands were evaluated from classified regional topographic maps. Air photographs were used to identify peatlands of northern landscapes. The total peatland area of the FSU was estimated at 165 Mha (106 hectares) which was two times greater than the most recent estimates based on thematic maps. The peat carbon pool was estimated at 215 Pg C. Half of this amount was in raised bogs. The rate of peat accumulation varied from 12 g C m−2 yr−1 (polygonal mires) to 72–80 g C m−2 yr−1 (fens and marshes). The total rate of carbon accumulation in FSU peatlands was 52 Tg C yr−1. Carbon emissions from peat utilization in the FSU were estimated at 122 Tg C yr−1. Thus, at present, peat accumulation/utilization in the FSU is a net source of approximately 70 Tg C yr−1 to the atmosphere.

Simulating Holocene carbon accumulation in a western Siberian watershed mire using a three‐dimensional dynamic modeling approach

“…In Figure 9c it is shown that the total range of LORCA values from both publications occur in the Bakchar Bog. The same applies for the LORCA values of 31.4 -38.1 g C m À2 yr À1 found by Botch et al [1995] for bogs. However, their higher values for fens, swamps and marshes 71.8 -79.8 g C m À2 yr À1 do occur only in small parts of our study area.…”

“…Despite the large area of mires in western Siberia and the large carbon stock associated with these mires, publications related to peat and carbon accumulation rates in this part of the world are still sparse. The long-term rate of carbon accumulation (LORCA) at point locations has been found to vary between 15.3 and 69.0 g C m À2 yr À1 [Botch et al, 1995;Turunen et al, 2001;Borren et al, 2004]. Variation of LORCA is mainly caused by different growth rates and organic matter and carbon densities of various mire types.…”

Holocene Development and Permafrost History of the Usinsk Mire, Northeast European Russia

“…The value is slightly less than the average values obtained for northern boreal Canada, 23 gC/m 2 /yr (Tarnocai, 1988), or for Finland, 26 gC/m 2 /yr (Tolonen and Turunen, 1996), and higher compared to subarctic Russia, 13 gC/m 2 /yr (Oksanen et al, 2001), or subarctic Canada, 9 gC/m 2 /yr (Tarnocai, 1988). The mean long-term vertical peat increment rate is 0.27 mm/yr, which is somewhat lower than values reported for peat deposits (0.34-0.70 mm/yr) in boreal Russia (Botch et al, 1995).…”

“…An estimated 22 % of the carbon pool in mires of the former Soviet Union is located in permafrost mires (Botch et al, 1995). A warming climate resulting in permafrost thawing and enlarged wet surface areas would probably cause increased organic accumulation but also increased methane production in northern taiga and tundra (Martikainen, 1996).…”

Life Cycle Analysis of the Embodied Carbon Emissions from 14 Wind Turbines with Rated Powers between 50 Kw and 3.4 Mw

“…Turbines built on peat soil are of particular concern in the UK due to the potential for large carbon emissions if disrupted [33]. Removing peat and vegetation results in an estimated loss of 0.12 and 0.31 tC/ha/yr [34,35] that would have accumulated each year had the peat not been disturbed. Removing peat also results in the loss of carbon already accumulated.…”