Hydraulic conductivity in upland blanket peat: measurement and variability

Holden, Joseph; Burt, T. P.

doi:10.1002/hyp.1182

Cited by 124 publications

(112 citation statements)

References 26 publications

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“…This would lead to an increase in the export of carbon from permafrost terrains. The hydraulic conductivity of peat can vary widely (Holden and Burt, 2003) but is generally considered low (Reynolds et al, 1992). Low hydraulic conductivities increase the residence time of water in peatlands and increase the potential for decomposition and leaching of DOM, but this also slows the rate of export from peatlands to nearby waterways.…”

Section: Observed Carbon F Luxes From Terrestrial Ecosystems As a Resmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sources and sinks of carbon in boreal ecosystems of interior Alaska: A review

Douglas

Jones

Hiemstra

et al. 2014

Elementa: Science of the Anthropocene

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Boreal ecosystems store large quantities of carbon but are increasingly vulnerable to carbon loss due to disturbance and climate warming. The boreal region in Alaska and Canada, largely underlain by discontinuous permafrost, presents a challenging landscape for itemizing carbon sources and sinks in soil and vegetation. The roles of fire, forest succession, and the presence (or absence) of permafrost on carbon cycle, vegetation, and hydrologic processes have been the focus of multidisciplinary research in boreal ecosystems for the past 20 years. However, projections of a warming future climate, an increase in fire severity and extent, and the potential degradation of permafrost could lead to major landscape and carbon cycle changes over the next 20 to 50 years. To assist land managers in interior Alaska in adapting and managing for potential changes in the carbon cycle we developed this review paper by incorporating an overview of the climate, ecosystem processes, vegetation, and soil regimes. Our objective is to provide a synthesis of the most current carbon storage estimates and measurements to guide policy and land management decisions on how to best manage carbon sources and sinks. We surveyed estimates of aboveground and belowground carbon stocks for interior Alaska boreal ecosystems and summarized methane and carbon dioxide f luxes. These data have been converted into similar units to facilitate comparison across ecosystem compartments. We identify potential changes in the carbon cycle with climate change and human disturbance. A novel research question is how compounding disturbances affect carbon sources and sinks associated with boreal ecosystem processes. Finally, we provide recommendations to address the challenges facing land managers in efforts to manage carbon cycle processes. The results of this study can be used for carbon cycle management in other locations within the boreal biome which encompasses a broad distribution from 45° to 83° north.

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Section: Observed Carbon F Luxes From Terrestrial Ecosystems As a Resmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sources and sinks of carbon in boreal ecosystems of interior Alaska: A review

Douglas

Jones

Hiemstra

et al. 2014

Elementa: Science of the Anthropocene

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“…The higher values probable belonged to the acrotelm and are more in accordance with our plant layer. More recently, Holden and Burt [2003] found conductivities ranging from 8.6 Â 10 À5 to 9.0 Â 10 À3 m d…”

mentioning

confidence: 98%

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

Borren

Bleuten

2006

Water Resources Research

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[1] The vast undisturbed mires in western Siberia formed a significant sink of atmospheric carbon dioxide during the Holocene. However, the lack of spatially resolved simulation models hampers the quantification of Holocene carbon accumulation of the entire mire systems. Here we developed a three-dimensional dynamic model, based on a hydrological approach. We applied the model to a large mire complex in western Siberia to simulate its Holocene development and to quantify the long-term carbon accumulation rate (LORCA). Our model simulated a LORCA with a spatial variation of 10-85 g C m À2 yr À1 . The average over the Holocene was 16.2 g C m À2 yr À1 . Simulation scenarios for the 21st century show that the average LORCA dropped to 5.2 g C m À2 yr À1because of oxidation and decomposition of peat following mire drainage after the 1950s. Even in the undrained parts of the mire complex the LORCA is lowered substantially because of the dropped water table and resulting decrease in peat growth. Our results show that carbon accumulation in western Siberian watershed mires will continue in the future. Thus these mires might remain a significant sink of carbon.

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“…Stewart and Lance [32] Hudson and Roberts [33] Coulson et al [34] Silins and Rothwell [35] Burke [36] Stewart and Lance [37] Allot et al [38] Heathwaite [39] Boelter [40] Holden and Burt [41] Prevost et al [42] Gilman [43] Hillman [44] Fen/RB BB and Fen/RB BB Pollboy Figure 5 -Plot of extent of drainage against hydraulic conductivity…”

Section: Extent Of Drainage (E) (M)mentioning

confidence: 99%

An embodied carbon and embodied energy appraisal of a section of Irish motorway constructed in peatlands

Duggan

McCabe

Goggins

et al. 2015

Construction and Building Materials

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In addition to the customary drivers of cost and timely project delivery, embodied energy (EE) and embodied carbon (EC) have come to prominence in recent years as major design considerations in all aspects of large-scale road construction projects. An assessment of road construction necessitating the excavation or alteration of peat should consider the impact on carbon stored within the peat and the greenhouse gases potentially released. A methodology for calculating the environmental impact of constructing roads on peat is presented in this paper. Furthermore, the paper describes the application of this methodology (focusing on EE and EC calculations) to a case study; a section of the M6 motorway in Ireland for which excavate-and-replace was the ground improvement method (Scenario ER). A range of peatrelated factors impacting on EE and EC estimates were examined, including materials, transport and machinery, as well as more unfamiliar factors such as peat drainage, drainage systems, restoration, slope stability and clearance of vegetation/forest. Comparisons of total EC are investigated under various management practices and restoration techniques for peatlands, assessing their strength in terms of hydrology and carbon storage potential. The total EC and EE for road construction to the sub-base level (and implications thereof) of the 2.14 km section of the M6 discussed in this paper was 17220 tCO2eq (8047 tCO2eq/km) and 54541 GJ (25487 GJ/km) respectively, with carbon loss from excavated peat accounting for 62% of the total EC. Two other ground improvement method scenarios for constructing this section of road were also considered: Scenario S, soil-mixing and Scenario ER+P, an appropriate combination of excavate-and-replace and piling. Scenario S gave rise to a total EC of 25306 tCO2eq (11825 tCO2eq/km) and a total EE of 164364 GJ (76806 GJ/km) while Scenario ER+P gave rise to a total EC of 17048 tCO2eq (7966 tCO2eq/km) and a total EE of 92706 GJ (43320 GJ/km). In this study, Scenario ER was the preferred technique as it had EC comparable to Scenario ER+P and the lowest EE. On the other hand, Scenario S was the least favourable due to the high EC and EE of the binder. However, this paper shows that the EC and EE can be decreased dramatically by changing the binder proportions. Furthermore, the EC of Scenarios ER and ER+P can also be significantly reduced if alternative restoration techniques are employed for excavated peat.3

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Hydraulic conductivity in upland blanket peat: measurement and variability

Abstract: This is an author produced version of an article published in Hydrological Processes:Holden, J. and Burt, T.P. (2003

Cited by 124 publications

References 26 publications

Sources and sinks of carbon in boreal ecosystems of interior Alaska: A review

Sources and sinks of carbon in boreal ecosystems of interior Alaska: A review

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

An embodied carbon and embodied energy appraisal of a section of Irish motorway constructed in peatlands

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