Search Results

1 of 1
Edit My Search | New Search | Selected Items
thumbnail image
PDF
PDF-1(2.03 MB)
Citation & Export
View statistics
Staff View

Citation & Export
Hide

Simple citation

Rennermalm, Asa K. & Nordbotten, Jan M. & Wood, Eric F. (2010). Hydrologic variability and its influence on long‐term peat dynamics. Water Resources Research, 46(12), W12546. Retrieved from https://doi.org/doi:10.7282/T3DJ5D1N

Export

Click here for information about Citation Management Tools at Rutgers.

Statistics
Hide

Description

Hydrologic variability and its influence on long‐term peat dynamics (2010)
Asa K. Rennermalm, Jan M. Nordbotten, Eric F. Wood
Water Resources Research 46(12): W12546.
VersionVersion of Record (VoR)
AbstractPeatlands are carbon‐rich ecosystems that are extensive in the northern high latitudes where significant 21st century climate changes are expected. In response to climate change, peatlands may become a net source of greenhouse gases, thereby inducing a positive climate feedback effect. In this paper, the impact of precipitation variability and the mean climate state on long‐term peat accumulation is investigated with model simulations. The models couple peat accumulation with the hydrological cycle, which results in peatland bistability, where peatlands may take the physical characteristics from one of two possible alternative stable states. The models consider precipitation as a stochastic forcing variable, temperature‐dependent functions and are parameterized with climatology and peat characteristics to represent the West Siberian Lowlands (WSL) between 55°N and 60°N. Observed WSL peat depths statistically imply bistability. Peatland bistability, however, is eliminated in model simulations with moderate‐to‐large precipitation variability and warmer and wetter climates. This suggests that projected late 21st century climate change would put the thick peatlands in WSL on a transition to thin peatlands. The loss of thick peatlands could significantly increase atmospheric carbon dioxide and provide a positive climate feedback effect. However, the impacts depend on the importance of unaccounted stabilizing factors. The study also shows that precipitation variability induces peatlands to switch between extended periods of accumulation and depletion even if the peatlands are in long‐term equilibrium. Thus, short‐term observations may see only natural fluctuations and new, longer‐term observational strategies are necessary to diagnose if peatlands are undergoing fundamental changes.
Persistent URLhttps://doi.org/doi:10.7282/T3DJ5D1N
SubjectsHydrology, Peatlands, Stochastic models
RightsCopyright for scholarly resources published in RUcore is retained by the copyright holder. By virtue of its appearance in this open access medium, you are free to use this resource, with proper attribution, in educational and other non-commercial settings. Other uses, such as reproduction or republication, may require the permission of the copyright holder.