Peatlands

Question 1

Why do peatlands need a high water table

Answer 1

Water logs the soil
Creates anaerobic conditions
Decomposers can’t decompose organic matter

Question 2

Is it a sink or source

Answer 2

Sink

Question 3

What does microbial respiration produce

Answer 3

CH4

Question 4

How does water enter the peatlands

Answer 4

Frontal rain

Question 5

How is water lost from the peatlands

Answer 5

Évapotranspiration

Question 6

How is a high water table created

Answer 6

Flat land 
Impermeable rock (gritstone)

Question 7

What is a carbon sink

Answer 7

The rate of atmospheric carbon being fixed is much higher than it being released into the atm

Question 8

How much area does peatland cover in wales

Answer 8

5%

Question 9

What % do peatlands contribute to Wales’s carbon store

Answer 9

30%

Question 10

How much do peatlands store globally

Answer 10

250gt

Question 11

How is carbon lost from peatlands

Answer 11

Dissolved organic carbon
Weathering
Particulate organic carbon

Question 12

How much of Peat is carbon

Answer 12

50%

Question 13

What bacteria decomposes peat

Answer 13

Méthanotrophic

Question 14

How deep is peat in the uk

Answer 14

4m

Question 15

What organisms live in peatlands

Answer 15

Sphagnum Moss
Red grouse
Heather

Question 16

How does the water cycle maintain a carbon sink in the peatlands

Answer 16

Precipitation> surface run off and évapotranspiration = high water table and water logged

Question 17

How does the carbon cycle maintain the carbon sink in the peatlands

Answer 17

Photosynthesis>respiration (bacteria and plants) doc and poc > decomposition

Question 18

Why is peat extracted

Answer 18

Good fuel source
Ireland has 2 peat powered stations
Added to soil in garden centres

Question 19

Why are peat bogs drained

Answer 19

Agriculture

Question 20

How does peat get eroded

Answer 20

Air pollution from Sheffield and Manchester
Vegetation died
Exposing bare peat
Surface run off rapidly erodes peat
Forming gullies
Water table lowers and water drains into gullies

Question 21

How much of the uks peat is damaged

Answer 21

80%

Question 22

What does a loss of 5% uks peatland equate to

Answer 22

UKs Annual c emissions

Question 23

How are peatlands restored

Answer 23

1. Re vegetation 
Stabilises peat 
Less vulnerable to surface run off erosion 
Raises water table 
Slows flow of water over the land 

2. Dams
   Blocks gullies
   Slow flor of surface run off overland flow
   Trap sediment for revegetation
   Trap water to create anaerobic conditions

Question 24

Where was revegetation successul

Answer 24

Bleak low south

Question 25

How much of gully blocking showed signs of being revegetated

Answer 25

94%