Abstract:
Northern peatlands are estimated to hold about 30 % of the total global pool of soil carbon or 13 % of the total terrestrial carbon in the biosphere [1]. The warmer, drie...Show MoreMetadata
Abstract:
Northern peatlands are estimated to hold about 30 % of the total global pool of soil carbon or 13 % of the total terrestrial carbon in the biosphere [1]. The warmer, drier conditions being experienced throughout the Arctic appear to be accelerating both aerobic and anaerobic decomposition of northern peatland soils, thereby increasing emissions of methane (CH4) and carbon dioxide (CO2) [2]. If continued, this trend could cause northern peatlands to become major sources of atmospheric carbon, with existing models predicting large increases in CH4 emissions as CO2 levels continue to rise [3]. To better understand sources, sinks, and net fluxes of atmospheric CO2 and CH4 validated high-resolution maps of the extent and distribution of northern wetlands are needed [4].
Published in: 2014 IEEE Geoscience and Remote Sensing Symposium
Date of Conference: 13-18 July 2014
Date Added to IEEE Xplore: 06 November 2014
Electronic ISBN:978-1-4799-5775-0