Abstract
The emission of three trace gases, nitrous oxide, carbon dioxide, and methane, from peatlands is examined, identifying the primary controls and the potential effect of climatic change on emission rates. Nitrous oxide emission from natural peatlands is small and tied to the cycling of nitrogen but increases upon disturbance such as drainage. Peatlands generally act as a sink for carbon dioxide, but they convert from a sink to a source upon drainage. Methane emissions are controlled primarily by position of the water table, with secondary controls of temperature and trophic status of the peat. Canadian and other northern peatlands play a moderately important role in the global methane budget. Climatic change, such as increases in temperature and precipitation predicted by 2 × CO2 scenarios, may result in increased emissions of nitrous oxide, decreased carbon dioxide storage, and reduced methane emissions from Canadian peatlands.
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Moore, T.R. Trace gas emissions from canadian peatlands and the effect of climatic change. Wetlands 14, 223–228 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03160659
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03160659