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Project

A combined field- and modelling approach to assess the long-term dynamics of alluvial peatlands to anthropogenic impact and climate change for contrasting environments in temperate Europe.

Scientific interest in peatlands has increased strongly in the light of the recent climatic changes, given the direct link between peatlands and the global climate through the exchange of carbon. Most research has focussed on northern peatlands where human influence has been limited. However, many river systems in temperate climates contain alluvial peatlands. In these regions, human impact through land cover changes has been extensive. Nevertheless, these environments have been strongly underrepresented in peatland research. Consequently, effects of land cover and climatic changes on peatland dynamics in temperate regions are not well understood. This study will address these research gaps by combining a field based approach with hydrological and peat growth modelling. It seeks to quantify the relative role humans and climate have played in changing alluvial peatland dynamics. The main objective is therefore to construct a model to investigate the long-term evolution of temperate peatlands and assess the sensitivity of the alluvial peatlands towards past and present changes in land cover and climate. A better insight in the processes governing peatland dynamics and evolution will lead to better predictions of the effects of the contemporary and future climate change on alluvial peatlands and vice versa.

Date:1 Oct 2016 →  31 Dec 2020
Keywords:peatlands, environments
Disciplines:Geomatic engineering, Physical geography and environmental geoscience, Geology, Atmospheric sciences, Atmospheric sciences, challenges and pollution
Project type:PhD project