Payne, Richard J., Ring-Hrubesh, Fin, Rush, Graham et al. (3 more authors) (2019) Peatland initiation and carbon accumulation in the Falkland Islands. Quaternary Science Reviews. ISSN 0277-3791
Abstract
The Falkland Islands in the South Atlantic Ocean contain extensive peatlands at the edge of their global climatic envelope, but the long-term carbon dynamics of these sites is poorly quantified. We present new data for ten sites, compile previously-published data and produce a new synthesis. Many peatlands in the Falkland Islands developed notably early, with a fifth of basal 14 C dates pre-Holocene. Falkland Islands peats have high ash content, high carbon content and high bulk density compared to global norms. In many sites carbon accumulation rates are extremely low, which may partly relate to low average rainfall, or to carbon loss through burning and aeolian processes. However, in coastal Tussac peatlands carbon accumulation can be extremely rapid. Our re-analysis of published data from Beauchene Island, the southernmost of the Falkland Islands, yields an exceptional long-term apparent carbon accumulation rate of 139 g C m −2 yr −1 , to our knowledge the highest recorded for any global peatland. This high accumulation might relate to the combination of a long growing-season and marine nutrient inputs. Given extensive coverage and carbon-dense peats the carbon stock of Falkland Islands peatlands is clearly considerable but robust quantification will require the development of a reliable peat map. Falkland Island peatlands challenge many standard assumptions and deserve more detailed study.
Metadata
Item Type: | Article |
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Authors/Creators: |
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Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information: | ©2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. This is an author-produced version of the published paper. Uploaded in accordance with the publisher’s self-archiving policy. |
Keywords: | Bog,Carbon accumulation,Holocene,Peat,South Atlantic |
Dates: |
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Institution: | The University of York |
Academic Units: | The University of York > Faculty of Sciences (York) > Environment and Geography (York) The University of York |
Depositing User: | Pure (York) |
Date Deposited: | 29 Apr 2019 10:40 |
Last Modified: | 16 Oct 2024 15:39 |
Published Version: | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.quascirev.2019.03.022 |
Status: | Published online |
Refereed: | Yes |
Identification Number: | 10.1016/j.quascirev.2019.03.022 |
Related URLs: | |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:145449 |
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Description: Payne et al. Falkland Islands Peatlands
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