Abstract
In this paper, changes in peat and tree stand C stores, GHG fluxes and the consequent RF of Finnish undisturbed and forestry‐drained peatlands are estimated for 1900–2100. The C store in peat is estimated at 5.5 Pg in 1950.
The rate of C sequestration into peat has increased from 2.2 Tg a‐‐1 in 1900, when all peatlands were undrained, to 3.6 Tg a‐‐1 at present, when c. 60% of peatlands have been drained for forestry. The C store in tree stands has increased from 60 to 170 Tg during the 20th century.
Methane emissions have decreased from an estimated 1.0–0.5 Tg CH4‐‐C a‐‐1, while those of N2O have increased from 0.0003 to 0.005 Tg N2O‐‐N a‐‐1.
The altered exchange rates of GHG gases since 1900 have decreased the RF of peatlands in Finland by about 3 mW m‐‐2 from the predrainage situation. This result contradicts the common hypothesis that drainage results in increased C emissions and therefore increased RF of peatlands.
The negative radiative forcing due to drainage is caused by increases in CO2 sequestration in peat (‐‐0.5 mW m‐‐2), tree stands and wood products (‐‐0.8 mW m‐‐2), decreases in CH4 emissions from peat to the atmosphere (‐‐1.6 mW m‐‐2), and only a small increase in N2O emissions (+0.1 mW m‐‐2).
Although the calculations presented include many uncertainties, the above results are considered qualitatively reliable and may be expected to be valid also for Scandinavian countries and Russia, where most forestry‐drained peatlands occur outside Finland.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 785-799 |
| Journal | Global Change Biology |
| Volume | 8 |
| Issue number | 8 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 2002 |
| MoE publication type | A1 Journal article-refereed |
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Carbon balance and radiative forcing of Finnish peatlands 1900 - 2100 : The impact of foresty drainage. / Minkkinen, Kari (Corresponding Author); Korhonen, Riitta; Savolainen, Ilkka; Laine, Jukka.
In: Global Change Biology, Vol. 8, No. 8, 2002, p. 785-799.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Scientific › peer-review
TY - JOUR
T1 - Carbon balance and radiative forcing of Finnish peatlands 1900 - 2100
T2 - The impact of foresty drainage
AU - Minkkinen, Kari
AU - Korhonen, Riitta
AU - Savolainen, Ilkka
AU - Laine, Jukka
PY - 2002
Y1 - 2002
N2 - Natural peatlands accumulate carbon (C) and nitrogen (N). They affect the global climate by binding carbon dioxide (CO2) and releasing methane (CH4) to the atmosphere; in contrast fluxes of nitrous oxide (N2O) in natural peatlands are insignificant. Changes in drainage associated with forestry alter these greenhouse gas (GHG) fluxes and thus the radiative forcing (RF) of peatlands. In this paper, changes in peat and tree stand C stores, GHG fluxes and the consequent RF of Finnish undisturbed and forestry‐drained peatlands are estimated for 1900–2100. The C store in peat is estimated at 5.5 Pg in 1950. The rate of C sequestration into peat has increased from 2.2 Tg a‐‐1 in 1900, when all peatlands were undrained, to 3.6 Tg a‐‐1 at present, when c. 60% of peatlands have been drained for forestry. The C store in tree stands has increased from 60 to 170 Tg during the 20th century. Methane emissions have decreased from an estimated 1.0–0.5 Tg CH4‐‐C a‐‐1, while those of N2O have increased from 0.0003 to 0.005 Tg N2O‐‐N a‐‐1. The altered exchange rates of GHG gases since 1900 have decreased the RF of peatlands in Finland by about 3 mW m‐‐2 from the predrainage situation. This result contradicts the common hypothesis that drainage results in increased C emissions and therefore increased RF of peatlands. The negative radiative forcing due to drainage is caused by increases in CO2 sequestration in peat (‐‐0.5 mW m‐‐2), tree stands and wood products (‐‐0.8 mW m‐‐2), decreases in CH4 emissions from peat to the atmosphere (‐‐1.6 mW m‐‐2), and only a small increase in N2O emissions (+0.1 mW m‐‐2). Although the calculations presented include many uncertainties, the above results are considered qualitatively reliable and may be expected to be valid also for Scandinavian countries and Russia, where most forestry‐drained peatlands occur outside Finland.
AB - Natural peatlands accumulate carbon (C) and nitrogen (N). They affect the global climate by binding carbon dioxide (CO2) and releasing methane (CH4) to the atmosphere; in contrast fluxes of nitrous oxide (N2O) in natural peatlands are insignificant. Changes in drainage associated with forestry alter these greenhouse gas (GHG) fluxes and thus the radiative forcing (RF) of peatlands. In this paper, changes in peat and tree stand C stores, GHG fluxes and the consequent RF of Finnish undisturbed and forestry‐drained peatlands are estimated for 1900–2100. The C store in peat is estimated at 5.5 Pg in 1950. The rate of C sequestration into peat has increased from 2.2 Tg a‐‐1 in 1900, when all peatlands were undrained, to 3.6 Tg a‐‐1 at present, when c. 60% of peatlands have been drained for forestry. The C store in tree stands has increased from 60 to 170 Tg during the 20th century. Methane emissions have decreased from an estimated 1.0–0.5 Tg CH4‐‐C a‐‐1, while those of N2O have increased from 0.0003 to 0.005 Tg N2O‐‐N a‐‐1. The altered exchange rates of GHG gases since 1900 have decreased the RF of peatlands in Finland by about 3 mW m‐‐2 from the predrainage situation. This result contradicts the common hypothesis that drainage results in increased C emissions and therefore increased RF of peatlands. The negative radiative forcing due to drainage is caused by increases in CO2 sequestration in peat (‐‐0.5 mW m‐‐2), tree stands and wood products (‐‐0.8 mW m‐‐2), decreases in CH4 emissions from peat to the atmosphere (‐‐1.6 mW m‐‐2), and only a small increase in N2O emissions (+0.1 mW m‐‐2). Although the calculations presented include many uncertainties, the above results are considered qualitatively reliable and may be expected to be valid also for Scandinavian countries and Russia, where most forestry‐drained peatlands occur outside Finland.
U2 - 10.1046/j.1365-2486.2002.00504.x
DO - 10.1046/j.1365-2486.2002.00504.x
M3 - Article
VL - 8
SP - 785
EP - 799
JO - Global Change Biology
JF - Global Change Biology
SN - 1354-1013
IS - 8
ER -