Global peatland greenhouse gas dynamics: state of the art, processes, and perspectives

Abstract

Natural peatlands regulate greenhouse gas (GHG) fluxes through a permanently high groundwater table, causing carbon dioxide (CO₂) assimilation but methane (CH₄) emissions due to anaerobic conditions. By contrast, drained and disturbed peatlands are hotspots for CO₂ and nitrous oxide (N₂O) emissions, while CH₄ release is low but high from drainage ditches. Generally, in low-latitude (tropical and subtropical) peatlands, emissions of all GHGs are higher than in high-latitude (temperate, boreal, and Arctic) peatlands. Their inherent dependence on the water regime makes peatlands highly vulnerable to both direct and indirect anthropogenic impacts, including climate change-induced drying, which is creating anthro-natural ecosystems. This paper presents state-of-the-art knowledge on peatland GHG fluxes and their key regulating processes, highlighting approaches to study spatio-temporal dynamics, integrated methods, direct and indirect human impacts, and peatlands' perspectives.