METAflux · Mire Ecosystem Transition Area Flux

Peatlands or mires contain about one third of this global terrestrial carbon pool which are located on between 3 and 6% of the global land area. In the boreal and sub-arctic areas permafrost covers about 18,782 x 103 km2 and peatlands or mires cover about 19% of this area. Observed mean annual air temperatures in these regions have increased by 2-3oC since the 1950s. Thawing permafrost leads to changes in the form and function of northern peatlands and is characterised by the transition of dry palsa mires to wetter peatland pits, depressions and pools. This project aims to use advance geospatial techniques (GIS, remote sensing and environmental modelling) to produce robust models that examine the impact of transition areas on the carbon balance of northern mire ecosystems.