Analysis of an InSAR “bog breathing” based classification of peatland condition relative to field observations in Cairnsmore of Fleet National Nature Reserve

Bradley, Andrew V.; Mitchell, Emily; Dryden, Ian; Fallaize, Chris; Tariqul Islam, Md.; Large, David J.; Andersen, Roxane; Marshall, Chris

Abstract

The purpose of this research is to:

1. Develop a field survey method that can be used to test the validity of maps of peatland condition that were created using satellite radar measures of peatland surface motion.

2. Test and refine a pre-existing peatland condition classification (Bradley et al., 2022) that was based on the relationship between peatland surface motion and condition observed in the Flow Country.

Peatland surface motion is a sensitive indicator of peatland condition and resilience. It is a mechanical response to changes in water storage that reflect a range of peatland properties including softness/stiffness, water table depth, plant functional type, land use history and topography. It also provides a measure of the ability of a peatland surface to track changes in the water table and hence minimise the risk posed by variable weather patterns and fire.

Previous work for NatureScot (Marshall et al., 2021) demonstrated that high (20 m) resolution maps of peatland condition derived from surface motion, can be created for large areas at low cost from satellite radar data using an interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR) technique. The spatial extent and resolution of the classified data brings with it the need for an appropriate and sustainable validation technique based on easily documented field observations made by an observer walking the land rather than expensive and/or localised field instruments.

Citation

Bradley, A. V., Mitchell, E., Dryden, I., Fallaize, C., Tariqul Islam, M., Large, D. J., Andersen, R., & Marshall, C. (2025). Analysis of an InSAR “bog breathing” based classification of peatland condition relative to field observations in Cairnsmore of Fleet National Nature Reserve. NatureScot

• Report Type: Research Report
• Online Publication Date: Jun 13, 2025
• Publication Date: Jun 13, 2025
• Deposit Date: Jul 17, 2025
• Publicly Available Date: Jul 18, 2025
• Series Title: NatureScot Research Report
• Series Number: 1308
• Keywords: Cairnsmore, surface motion, InSAR, validation, peatland condition, monitoring
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/51620134
• Publisher URL: https://www.nature.scot/doc/naturescot-research-report-1308-analysis-insar-bog-breathing-based-classification-peatland-condition