Peatlands in the north of the globe are changing rapidly in response to global warming, but in a complex way, according to a study by scientists including Prof Mariusz Lamentowicz and Dr Katarzyna Marcisz from Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznan. The findings were published in the latest issue of Nature Communications.
“Peatlands at high latitudes are changing rapidly in response to climate change (mainly anthropogenic global warming), including the melting of permafrost”, says Prof Mariusz Lamentowicz as quoted in the university’s website.
During the study, the scientists reconstructed hydrological conditions since the 17th century, using shell amoebae from 103 peat cores located at high latitudes. They were able to show that during this period 54 % of peatlands began to dry out and 32 % became wet. Peatlands in the Arctic are experiencing stress and are increasingly unstable.
