High sensitivity of peat decomposition to climate change through water-table feedback

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• Dunn, Allison L.
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• Wofsy, Steven C.
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• Moorcroft, Paul R.

Abstract

The water table interacts with soil organic carbon in northern peatlands that have historically functioned as a carbon sink. Simulations with a coupled physical–biogeochemical soil model with continuously updated peat depths show that the feedback between the water table and peat depth increases the sensitivity of peat decomposition to temperature, and intensifies the loss of soil organic carbon in a changing climate.