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Identification of typical ecohydrological behaviours using InSAR allows landscape-scale mapping of peatland condition

Bradley, Andrew V.; Andersen, Roxane; Marshall, Chris; Sowter, Andrew; Large, David J.

Identification of typical ecohydrological behaviours using InSAR allows landscape-scale mapping of peatland condition Thumbnail


Authors

Roxane Andersen

Chris Marshall

Andrew Sowter

DAVID LARGE David.Large@nottingham.ac.uk
Abbott Professor of Geoscience



Abstract

Better tools for rapid and reliable assessment of global peatland extent and condition are urgently needed to support action to prevent further decline of peatlands. Peatland surface motion is a response to changes in the water and gas content of a peat body regulated by the ecology and hydrology of a peatland system. Surface motion is therefore a sensitive measure of ecohydrological condition but has traditionally been impossible to measure at the landscape scale. Here we examine the potential of surface motion metrics derived from satellite interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR) to map peatland condition in a blanket bog landscape. We show that the timing of maximum seasonal swelling of the peat is characterised by a bimodal distribution. The first maximum, usually in autumn, is typical of "stiffer"peat associated with steeper topographic gradients, peatland margins, and degraded peatland and more often associated with "shrub"-dominated vegetation communities. The second maximum, usually in winter, is typically associated with "softer"peat typically found in low topographic gradients often featuring pool systems and Sphagnum-dominated vegetation communities. Specific conditions of "soft"and "stiff"peats are also determined by the amplitude of swelling and multi-annual average motion. Peatland restoration currently follows a re-wetting strategy; however, our approach highlights that landscape setting appears to determine the optimal endpoint for restoration. Aligning the expectation for restoration outcomes with landscape setting might optimise peatland stability and carbon storage. Importantly, deployment of this approach, based on surface motion dynamics, could support peatland mapping and management on a global scale.

Citation

Bradley, A. V., Andersen, R., Marshall, C., Sowter, A., & Large, D. J. (2022). Identification of typical ecohydrological behaviours using InSAR allows landscape-scale mapping of peatland condition. Earth Surface Dynamics, 10(2), 261-277. https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-10-261-2022

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Feb 21, 2022
Online Publication Date Mar 24, 2022
Publication Date Mar 24, 2022
Deposit Date Apr 1, 2022
Publicly Available Date Apr 1, 2022
Journal Earth Surface Dynamics
Print ISSN 2196-6311
Electronic ISSN 2196-632X
Publisher European Geosciences Union
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 10
Issue 2
Pages 261-277
DOI https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-10-261-2022
Keywords Earth-Surface Processes; Geophysics
Public URL https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/7655473
Publisher URL https://esurf.copernicus.org/articles/10/261/2022/

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