From BBC News (30 August 2019):
A new study into the ecological impact of wildfires on peatland is to begin in Scotland’s Flow Country. The peatbog, which stretches across Caithness and Sutherland, is the largest in Europe and is an import store of greenhouse gases. The Fire Blanket project will examine the effects of a large blaze which burned for several days in May across an area of about 22 square miles. Researchers said it offered a “unique opportunity” to fill gaps in knowledge.
Experts said extreme weather events, including wildfires, were likely to increase in frequency as a result of the changing climate. Dr Andersen, from the University of the Highlands and Islands, said: “Understanding how land-use interacts with climate extremes in peatlands is essential to inform which management practices best maintain and enhance peatland carbon storage. “However, this is notoriously challenging to achieve because climate extremes are rare and ephemeral. In addition, their effects can only be truly assessed where high-quality, ground-based observations pre-date an extreme event and where data from both impacted and similar control areas can be compared afterwards.”
Read the full article on BBC News
