ORCID
- Davidson, Scott: 0000-0001-8327-2121
Abstract
The northern peatland carbon sink plays a vital role in climate regulation; however, the future of the carbon sink is uncertain, in part, due to the changing interactions of peatlands and wildfire. Here, we use empirical datasets from natural, degraded and restored peatlands in non-permafrost boreal and temperate regions to model net ecosystem exchange and methane fluxes, integrating peatland degradation status, wildfire combustion and post-fire dynamics. We find that wildfire processes reduced carbon uptake in pristine peatlands by 35% and further enhanced emissions from degraded peatlands by 10%. The current small net sink is vulnerable to the interactions of peatland degraded area, burn rate and peat burn severity. Climate change impacts accelerated carbon losses, where increased burn severity and burn rate reduced the carbon sink by 38% and 65%, respectively, by 2100. However, our study demonstrates the potential for active peatland restoration to buffer these impacts.
DOI
10.1038/s41558-023-01657-w
Publication Date
2023-03-17
Publication Title
Nature Climate Change
ISSN
1758-678X
Embargo Period
2023-10-20
Organisational Unit
School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences
Recommended Citation
Wilkinson, S. L., Andersen, R., Moore, P., Davidson, S., Granath, G., & Waddington, J. (2023) 'Wildfire and degradation accelerate northern peatland carbon release', Nature Climate Change, . Available at: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41558-023-01657-w
