Ideas and Perspectives: Potentially large but highly uncertain carbon dioxide emissions resulting from peat erosion

Abstract

Peatland erosion and resulting particulate organic carbon (POC) flux is an international problem that is causing loss of peat carbon to the atmosphere and contributing to climate change. Peatlands from around the world are eroding and losing carbon for a range of reasons, from overgrazing to climate change, and the POC is subsequently exposed to a diverse range of conditions, depending on the geographical context. The context, drivers of erosion and downstream environment will directly influence the rate at which POC is mineralised to CO2 by microbial communities. Despite the potential large carbon losses from POC and subsequent CO2 emissions, the mechanisms for emissions reporting at international and national level are undeveloped. Here we highlight the key limitations for understanding and quantifying emissions that result from peat erosion and discuss the research that is required to address these limitations. We particularly consider quantification of direct CO2 emissions from bare peat and resedimentation and further turnover at different scales. By integrating biological and geomorphological process understanding we can work towards better quantification of peatland emissions and the emissions that can be avoided through peatland ecosystem restoration.