Tropical peat is a type of histosol that is found in tropical latitudes, including South East Asia, Africa, and Central and South America.[2] Tropical peat mostly consists of dead organic matter from trees instead of spaghnum which are commonly found in temperate peat.[3] This soils usually contain high organic matter content, exceeding 75% with dry low bulk density around 0.2 mg/m3 (0.0 gr/cu ft).[4]
Peatland river water draining into coastal waters
South-East Asia is home to one of the world's largest stores of tropical peatland and accounts for roughly 10 % of the global land-to-sea dissolved organic carbon (DOC) flux. The rivers carry high coloured dissolved organic matter (CDOM) concentrations, shown here interfacing with ocean shelf water.[1]
Areas of tropical peat are found mostly in South America (about 46% by area) [5] although they are also found in Africa, Central America, Asia and elsewhere around the tropics. Tropical peatlands are significant carbon sinks and store large amounts of carbon and their destruction can have a significant impact on the amount of atmospheric carbon dioxide. Tropical peatlands are vulnerable to destabilisation through human and climate induced changes. Estimates of the area (and hence volume) of tropical peatlands vary but a reasonable estimate is in the region of 380,000 square kilometres (150,000 sq mi).
Although tropical peatlands only cover about 0.25% of the Earth's land surface they contain 50,000–70,000 million tonnes of carbon (about 3% global soil carbon). In addition, tropical peatlands support diverse ecosystems and are home to a number of endangered species including the orangutan.
The native peat swamp forests contain a number of valuable timber-producing trees plus a range of other products of value to local communities, such as bark, resins and latex. Land-use changes and fire, mainly associated with plantation development and logging (deforestation and drainage), are reducing this carbon store and contributing to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
The problems that result from development of tropical peatlands stem mainly from a lack of understanding of the complexities of this ecosystem and the fragility of the relationship between peat and forest. Once the forest is removed and the peat is drained, the surface peat oxidises and loses stored carbon rapidly to the atmosphere (as carbon dioxide). This results in progressive loss of the peat surface, leading to local flooding and, due to the large areas involved, global climate change. Failure to account for such emissions results in underestimates of the rate of increase in atmospheric GHGs and the extent of human induced climate change.
^Martin, P., Cherukuru, N., Tan, A.S., Sanwlani, N., Mujahid, A. and Müller, M.(2018) "Distribution and cycling of terrigenous dissolved organic carbon in peatland-draining rivers and coastal waters of Sarawak, Borneo", Biogeosciences, 15(2): 6847–6865. doi:10.5194/bg-15-6847-2018. Material was copied from this source, which is available under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
^Wu, Yuanqiao; Chan, Ed; Melton, Joe R.; Verseghy, Diana L. (2017-07-13). "A map of global peatland distribution created using machine learning for use in terrestrial ecosystem and earth system models". Geoscientific Model Development Discussions: 1–21. doi:10.5194/gmd-2017-152. ISSN 1991-959X.
^Rieley, J. O. (1996). "The extent and nature of tropical peat swamps". Tropical Lowland Peatlands of Southeast Asia. Proceedings of a Workshop on Integrated Planning and Management of Tropical Lowland Peatlands Held at Cisarua, Indonesia, 3–8 July 1992. IUCN, Gland Switzerland.
^Deboucha, S.; Hashim, R.; Alwi, A. (2008). "Engineering properties of stabilized tropical peat soils". UM Research Repository. University of Malaya. Retrieved 2018-11-02.
^Murdiyarso, D.; Román-Cuesta, R. M.; Verchot, L. V.; Herold, M.; Gumbricht, T.; Herold, N.; Martius, C. (23 June 2017). "New map reveals more peat in the tropics". CIFOR Infobriefs. doi:10.17528/cifor/006452.
tropical, peat, type, histosol, that, found, tropical, latitudes, including, south, east, asia, africa, central, south, america, mostly, consists, dead, organic, matter, from, trees, instead, spaghnum, which, commonly, found, temperate, peat, this, soils, usua. Tropical peat is a type of histosol that is found in tropical latitudes including South East Asia Africa and Central and South America 2 Tropical peat mostly consists of dead organic matter from trees instead of spaghnum which are commonly found in temperate peat 3 This soils usually contain high organic matter content exceeding 75 with dry low bulk density around 0 2 mg m3 0 0 gr cu ft 4 Peatland river water draining into coastal waters South East Asia is home to one of the world s largest stores of tropical peatland and accounts for roughly 10 of the global land to sea dissolved organic carbon DOC flux The rivers carry high coloured dissolved organic matter CDOM concentrations shown here interfacing with ocean shelf water 1 Areas of tropical peat are found mostly in South America about 46 by area 5 although they are also found in Africa Central America Asia and elsewhere around the tropics Tropical peatlands are significant carbon sinks and store large amounts of carbon and their destruction can have a significant impact on the amount of atmospheric carbon dioxide Tropical peatlands are vulnerable to destabilisation through human and climate induced changes Estimates of the area and hence volume of tropical peatlands vary but a reasonable estimate is in the region of 380 000 square kilometres 150 000 sq mi Although tropical peatlands only cover about 0 25 of the Earth s land surface they contain 50 000 70 000 million tonnes of carbon about 3 global soil carbon In addition tropical peatlands support diverse ecosystems and are home to a number of endangered species including the orangutan The native peat swamp forests contain a number of valuable timber producing trees plus a range of other products of value to local communities such as bark resins and latex Land use changes and fire mainly associated with plantation development and logging deforestation and drainage are reducing this carbon store and contributing to greenhouse gas GHG emissions The problems that result from development of tropical peatlands stem mainly from a lack of understanding of the complexities of this ecosystem and the fragility of the relationship between peat and forest Once the forest is removed and the peat is drained the surface peat oxidises and loses stored carbon rapidly to the atmosphere as carbon dioxide This results in progressive loss of the peat surface leading to local flooding and due to the large areas involved global climate change Failure to account for such emissions results in underestimates of the rate of increase in atmospheric GHGs and the extent of human induced climate change See also edit nbsp Wetlands portal Peat Peat swamp forestReferences edit Martin P Cherukuru N Tan A S Sanwlani N Mujahid A and Muller M 2018 Distribution and cycling of terrigenous dissolved organic carbon in peatland draining rivers and coastal waters of Sarawak Borneo Biogeosciences 15 2 6847 6865 doi 10 5194 bg 15 6847 2018 nbsp Material was copied from this source which is available under a Creative Commons Attribution 4 0 International License Wu Yuanqiao Chan Ed Melton Joe R Verseghy Diana L 2017 07 13 A map of global peatland distribution created using machine learning for use in terrestrial ecosystem and earth system models Geoscientific Model Development Discussions 1 21 doi 10 5194 gmd 2017 152 ISSN 1991 959X Rieley J O 1996 The extent and nature of tropical peat swamps Tropical Lowland Peatlands of Southeast Asia Proceedings of a Workshop on Integrated Planning and Management of Tropical Lowland Peatlands Held at Cisarua Indonesia 3 8 July 1992 IUCN Gland Switzerland Deboucha S Hashim R Alwi A 2008 Engineering properties of stabilized tropical peat soils UM Research Repository University of Malaya Retrieved 2018 11 02 Murdiyarso D Roman Cuesta R M Verchot L V Herold M Gumbricht T Herold N Martius C 23 June 2017 New map reveals more peat in the tropics CIFOR Infobriefs doi 10 17528 cifor 006452 External links editBBC Borneo healing plants threatened BBC Asian peat fires add to warming Wise Use of Tropical Peatlands Focus on Southeast Asia CARBOPEAT Project Introduction to Keep the Peat Wet on YouTube International Peatland Society Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Tropical peat amp oldid 1211075186, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
