PEATMAP: Refining estimates of global peatland distribution based on a meta-analysis

Xu, Jiren; Morris, Paul J.; Liu, Junguo; Holden, Joseph

doi:10.1016/j.catena.2017.09.010

Cited by 575 publications

(473 citation statements)

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“…The use of modern-day topography to calculate the extent of peatland during the Holocene might thus overestimate Holocene peatland expansion rates for some regions, exacerbating the positive feedback of peatland HSU on area in our model.The overestimation of the area of northern peatlands might cause biases on the simulated peatlands NEP. We estimate this impact crudely by masking the model result with an observation-based peatland map [meaning that only grid cells that have peatland in PEATMAP(Xu et al, 2018) are accounted for]; the simulated present-day northern peatlands area after masking is 4.4 (IPSL-CM5A-LR) and 4.6 million km 2 (GFDL-ESM2M), closer to previous estimates of 3.4-4 million km 2 . These peatlands are predicted to sequester 13 (IPSL-CM5A-LR under both RCP2.6 and RCP6.0) and 16 PgC (GFDL-ESM2M under both RCP2.6 and RCP6.0) over2006- 2099…”

mentioning

confidence: 62%

The role of northern peatlands in the global carbon cycle for the 21st century

Qiu

Zhu

Ciais

et al. 2020

Global Ecol Biogeogr

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Aim Persistent sinks of atmospheric CO2 in undisturbed peatlands are not included in future projections of the global carbon budget. We aimed to explore possible responses of northern peatlands to future climate change and to quantify the role of northern peatlands in the carbon balance of the Northern Hemisphere. Location The terrestrial Northern Hemisphere (>30° N). Time period 1861–2099. Major taxa studied Not a specific plant species, but a plant functional type is used by the model to represent an average of all vegetation growing in northern peatlands. Methods The ORCHIDEE‐PEAT v.2.0 process‐based land surface model was used to simulate area and carbon dynamics of northern peatlands. The model was driven up to the year 2099 by the global CO2 concentration from representative concentration pathways (RCPs) 2.6, 6.0 and 8.5 by corresponding climate projections from two general circulation models after bias correction. Results First, from 1861 to 2005 the mean annual carbon balance of northern peatlands was an atmospheric CO2 sink of 0.10 PgC/year, and this sink will roughly double in the future under both RCP2.6 and RCP6.0, whereas the total northern peatlands will be either a source of CO2 (IPSL‐CM5A‐LR) or near neutral (GFDL‐ESM2M) by the end of the century under RCP8.5. Second, the peatlands in western Canada, western and northern Europe may experience reducing areas and may shift from being CO2 sinks to sources, especially under rapid climate warming. Third, peatland enhances soil carbon accumulation in the Northern Hemisphere (lands north of 30° N). Main conclusions In this study, future changes in both northern peatland extent and peatland carbon storage are simulated. We highlight that undisturbed northern peatlands are small but persistent carbon sinks in the future; thus, it is important to protect these ecosystems.

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confidence: 62%

The role of northern peatlands in the global carbon cycle for the 21st century

Qiu

Zhu

Ciais

et al. 2020

Global Ecol Biogeogr

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“…This study confirmed that the natural wetlands act as GHG sinks or are neutral. Considering the global area of coastal wetlands (1.28 × 10 5 km 2 ; Murray et al, 2019), riparian wetlands (3.69 × 10 6 km 2 ; Lehner & Döll, 2004), and peatlands (4.23 × 10 6 km 2 ; Xu, Morris, Liu, & Holden, 2018), the annual GHG uptake by the three types of natural wetlands would be around 0.01, 3.23, and 1.21 Gt CO 2 -eq/year, respectively, which are comparable to the results of Lu et al (2017). However, both analytical methods of data (with total 209 sites or 178 strictly controlled sites)…”

Section: Ghg Budget Of Lulcc From Natural Wetlandsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Conversion of coastal wetlands, riparian wetlands, and peatlands increases greenhouse gas emissions: A global meta‐analysis

Tan

Zhou

et al. 2020

Global Change Biology

127

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Land‐use/land‐cover change (LULCC) often results in degradation of natural wetlands and affects the dynamics of greenhouse gases (GHGs). However, the magnitude of changes in GHG emissions from wetlands undergoing various LULCC types remains unclear. We conducted a global meta‐analysis with a database of 209 sites to examine the effects of LULCC types of constructed wetlands (CWs), croplands (CLs), aquaculture ponds (APs), drained wetlands (DWs), and pastures (PASs) on the variability in CO2, CH4, and N2O emissions from the natural coastal wetlands, riparian wetlands, and peatlands. Our results showed that the natural wetlands were net sinks of atmospheric CO2 and net sources of CH4 and N2O, exhibiting the capacity to mitigate greenhouse effects due to negative comprehensive global warming potentials (GWPs; −0.9 to −8.7 t CO2‐eq ha−1 year−1). Relative to the natural wetlands, all LULCC types (except CWs from coastal wetlands) decreased the net CO2 uptake by 69.7%−456.6%, due to a higher increase in ecosystem respiration relative to slight changes in gross primary production. The CWs and APs significantly increased the CH4 emissions compared to those of the coastal wetlands. All LULCC types associated with the riparian wetlands significantly decreased the CH4 emissions. When the peatlands were converted to the PASs, the CH4 emissions significantly increased. The CLs, as well as DWs from peatlands, significantly increased the N2O emissions in the natural wetlands. As a result, all LULCC types (except PASs from riparian wetlands) led to remarkably higher GWPs by 65.4%−2,948.8%, compared to those of the natural wetlands. The variability in GHG fluxes with LULCC was mainly sensitive to changes in soil water content, water table, salinity, soil nitrogen content, soil pH, and bulk density. This study highlights the significant role of LULCC in increasing comprehensive GHG emissions from global natural wetlands, and our results are useful for improving future models and manipulative experiments.

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“…In addition to moisture availability, a lower water table alters nutrient availability by decreasing the flow of groundwater to fens, which in turn changes the competitive balance of many wetland species (Granath, Strengbom, & Rydin, 2010;Laine et al, 1995;Nijp et al, 2014). Significant changes are to be expected in boreal regions, which foster the majority of peatlands globally, as they are some of the fastest warming places on earth (IPCC, 2014;Solomon, Qin, Manning, Averyt, & Marquis, 2007;Xu, Morris, Liu, & Holden, 2018).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Responses of peatland vegetation to 15‐year water level drawdown as mediated by fertility level

Kokkonen

Laine

et al. 2019

J Vegetation Science

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Questions Peatland ecosystems are a globally important carbon storage that is predicted to turn into a carbon source due to water level drawdown (WLD) associated with climate change. The predictions assume stable plant communities but how realistic is this assumption? If the vegetation is not stable, what are the nature and rate of changes? Location Peatland complex in Southern Finland. Methods We conducted a water level drawdown (WLD of ~10 cm) experiment over 17 years in three peatland types differing in their fertility. On each peatland type, we included an adjacent forestry drained (FD, with water table ca. 40 cm lower than in control) area for comparison. Results Peatland type had a clear impact on the response to WLD: at the ecosystem level, the two minerotrophic fens underwent rapid species turnover, while the vegetation in nutrient‐poor bog was more resilient to change. In nutrient‐rich sites, WLD initiated tree canopy development and created understorey conditions that strengthened impact of WLD. In nutrient‐poor site, tree establishment was seen only in the FD area. In addition to high nutrient level, high wetness accelerated change at the plant community level, where we found three types of responses: accelerating change, decelerating change, and stability. Succession resulted in an overall loss of community heterogeneity. Conclusions Interaction between hydrology, nutrient availability, and biological factors in boreal peatlands is important: the drop in water table required to achieve the shift from open peatland to forested system is inversely proportional to the nutrient level of the system. The results suggest that predictive models of peatland functions under climate change should consider compositional change for fens and their diverse plant communities but are more realistic for bogs. The response of bog vegetation to climate change may, however, be more dependent on changes in rainfall regime and therefore needs to be further addressed.

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PEATMAP: Refining estimates of global peatland distribution based on a meta-analysis

Cited by 575 publications

References 45 publications

The role of northern peatlands in the global carbon cycle for the 21st century

The role of northern peatlands in the global carbon cycle for the 21st century

Conversion of coastal wetlands, riparian wetlands, and peatlands increases greenhouse gas emissions: A global meta‐analysis

Responses of peatland vegetation to 15‐year water level drawdown as mediated by fertility level

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