1.4 - Peatlands

Question 1

Terrestrial Sequestration

Answer 1

Photosynthesis converts carbon into carbohydrates for energy, it then gets locked up in leaves, shoots, roots and bark. Upon decomposition carbon is transferred into soil. During aerobic conditions soil biota return it to the atmosphere however in anaerobic conditions carbon is locked away in peatlands.

Question 2

Ocean Sequestration

Answer 2

Photosynthesis in phytoplankton are then eaten by larger animals. As planktons/organisms die, dead cells go into deeper ocean store where decay releases it into the water.

Question 3

What Are Peatlands?

Answer 3

Waterlogged landscapes, meaning the water table is significantly high. Dead vegetation builds up here but can’t fully decay due to anaerobic conditions, which preserves the carbon. With heat and pressure the peat will turn into lignite then coal and anthracite. As there is increased carbon, there will also be a longer burn time.

Question 4

Where Are Peatlands?

Answer 4

Mainly in northerly Canada, UK and countries near the Basaltic sea, they cover 3% of the world’s land, and the world’s largest is in Congo swamps.

Question 5

Benefits Of Peatlands

Answer 5

They purify water, mitigate floods and are home to rare species.

Question 6

What Threatens Peatlands

Answer 6

They’re damaged through agriculture, deforestation, conversions and drainage for agriculture.

Question 7

What Threats Do Peatlands Cause?

Answer 7

They release methane gases so therefore it might be beneficial to drain them

Question 8

Why Are Peatlands Important

Answer 8

They filter metal toxins and purify water
They provide home to rare wetland species
THey hold toxic gases from the industrial era
They are a third of the world’s organic carbon store.