Articles | Volume 20, issue 18
https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-20-3751-2023
© Author(s) 2023. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-20-3751-2023
© Author(s) 2023. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Reviews and syntheses
| 
15 Sep 2023
Reviews and syntheses |
| 15 Sep 2023
| 15 Sep 2023
Reviews and syntheses: Understanding the impacts of peatland catchment management on dissolved organic matter concentration and treatability
UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Environment Centre Wales,
Deiniol Road, Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 2UW, UK
Chris Evans
UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Environment Centre Wales,
Deiniol Road, Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 2UW, UK
Bryan Spears
UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Bush Estate, Penicuik,
Midlothian, EH26 0QB, UK
Amy Pickard
UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Bush Estate, Penicuik,
Midlothian, EH26 0QB, UK
Pippa J. Chapman
School of Geography, Faculty of Environment, University of Leeds,
Leeds, LS2 9JT, UK
Heidrun Feuchtmayr
UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Lancaster Environment Centre,
Library Avenue, Bailrigg, Lancaster, LA1 4AP, UK
Fraser Leith
Scottish Water, 6 Castle Drive, Dunfermline, KY11 8GG, UK
Susan Waldron
School of Geographical and Earth Sciences, University of Glasgow,
Glasgow, G12 8QQ, UK
Don Monteith
UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Lancaster Environment Centre,
Library Avenue, Bailrigg, Lancaster, LA1 4AP, UK
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Many peatlands around the world are eroding and causing carbon losses to the atmosphere and to freshwater systems. To accurately report emissions from peatlands we need to understand how much of the eroded peat is converted to CO2 once exposed to the atmosphere. We need more direct measurements of this process and a better understanding of the environmental conditions that peat is exposed to after it erodes. This information will help quantify the emissions savings from peatland restoration.
This article is included in the Encyclopedia of Geosciences
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This article is included in the Encyclopedia of Geosciences
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Lakes worldwide are changing and under threat due to stressors such as overload of nutrients, increased input of organic carbon (“browning”), and climate change, which may cause reduced water volume, salinization, or even loss of waterbodies. Some of these changes are abrupt to the extent that they can be characterized as tipping points for that particular system. Such changes may also cause increased release of greenhouse gases, and lakes are major players in the global climate in this context.
This article is included in the Encyclopedia of Geosciences
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Peatlands have been subject to a range of land management regimes over the past century. This has affected the amount of carbon that drains into surrounding streams and rivers. In our study, we measured carbon concentrations in streams draining from drained, non-drained, and restored areas of the Flow Country blanket bog in N Scotland. We found that drained peatland had higher concentrations and fluxes of carbon relative to non-drained areas. Restored peatland areas were highly variable.
This article is included in the Encyclopedia of Geosciences
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We measured element losses and impacts on water quality following a wildfire in Sweden. We observed the largest carbon and nitrogen losses during the fire and a strong pulse of elements 1–3 months after the fire that showed a fast (weeks) and a slow (months) release from the catchments. Total carbon export through water did not increase post-fire. Overall, we observed a rapid recovery of the biogeochemical cycling of elements within 3 years but still an annual net release of carbon dioxide.
This article is included in the Encyclopedia of Geosciences
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Short summary
Managing drinking water catchments to minimise water colour could reduce costs for water companies and save their customers money. Brown-coloured water comes from peat soils, primarily around upland reservoirs. Management practices, including blocking drains, removing conifers, restoring peatland plants and reducing burning, have been used to try and reduce water colour. This work brings together published evidence of the effectiveness of these practices to aid water industry decision-making.
Managing drinking water catchments to minimise water colour could reduce costs for water...
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