Climate change drives up greenhouse-gas emissions from UK peatlands
UK’s already depleted peatlands are suffering ever-increasing erosion and climate change, raising the likelihood vast quantities of carbon will be released into the atmosphere, scientists warned in a study presented to the Royal Geographical Society.
With proper conservation, the authors said, the peat bogs could actually help reduce CO2 emissions.
"Peatlands are areas where there is a high water table, and because of this you get low oxygen conditions within the saturated area that prevents organic materials from breaking down," the paper's lead author said.
"If you take the current rate of carbon loss as a result of badly eroded areas and apply this across the whole of the UK's peatlands then you lose about 1.5 million tonnes of carbon each year - that's the worst-case scenario."
I have a question
If peat stores carbon, does using peat as heating fuel contribute to CO2 levels in the atmosphere? And what about the production of Scotch whisky? I am ready to do my bit to combat global warming: drive less, convert to solar, even go vegetarian. But giving up my Laphroaig might be asking too much!
Bill is a big scotch fan too!
Guilty pleasures . . .
It's a tough one! Maybe I had better lay down a case or two of the good stuff against future shortages. I'll let you know if I find a deal on Ardbeg in bulk.
Guilty pleasures
I'm sure the distilling of fine Scotch will come under the category of conservation. Especially the Islay malts. Just think of the wind power sweeping over the peatlands!