Research

 

Peatlands represent one of the most important global terrestrial carbon sinks, and Irish peatlands are known to be important  carbon store. However, much of the peatland area in Ireland has been influenced through anthropogenic management focused largely on the drainage of  these systems and either conversion to forestry or agriculture, or extraction for energy or horticultural purposes.

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In the light of recent Irish peatland restoration plans and actions it is crucial to enhance our understanding of the main drivers of the change and dynamics in greenhouse gas emissions/removals from peatland systems, which will enable the evaluation of the rate at which rehabilitated peatland areas can become carbon sink.

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Among others, the CO2PEAT research project aims to:

• Identify the main drivers and establish links between  analysis of greenhouse gas - i.e. CO   emissions/removals

• Improve our knowledge of peatland ecosystems through the utilisation of advanced modelling approaches

• Enhance our understanding of how the strength of  peatland carbon sink is regulated by various factors

 

 CO2PEAT project uses an approach of integration of a number of tasks within a research framework that will support current analysis and methodologies used in greenhouse gas (i.e. CO  ) emission and removal estimates for peatland,  required for reporting at the national level.

 

The research focuses on the utilisation of statistical and advanced process-based modelling methods, in combination with the integration of advanced observational data streams. This work aims to improve our knowledge of peatland ecosystems and our understanding of how the strength of peatland carbon sink is regulated by various factors at different timescales and climate scenarios.