https://phys.org/news/2025-06-ireland-peatlands-carbon-emissions.html
'Mapping more accurately than ever Ireland's peatlands, which are vital as
carbon sinks but whose boundaries can be hard to determine, could help fight
global warming, researchers say.
Ireland is pockmarked with patches of dark brown peat soil that make up at
least 20% of the land cover, according to Eve Daly, a geophysicist at the
University of Galway, who co-led a groundbreaking project on finding peat.
"Peatland soils contain comparable amounts of carbon to the likes of
rainforests so a more accurate map can lead to better land management decisions
and mitigate against greenhouse gas emissions," Daly told AFP.
Her research team developed a new mapping approach using gamma radiation
measurements to identify for the first time "transition zones"—typically hidden
under forests and grasslands—where the soil changes from being peat to
mineral-based.
Daly says the area of soil in Ireland considered "peaty" has increased thanks
to a new color-coded "peat/non-peat" map produced by the researchers.
"Improved mapping at higher resolution and locating where hidden organic peat
soils are and their extent are key inputs into working out carbon emission
factors," she said.
Her project co-leader Dave O'Leary told
AFP about 80% of Ireland had now been
mapped out in patches of "peat" brown or "non-peat" green.
"Few countries have invested in such an incredible data set, which puts Ireland
at the forefront of peatland mapping research," he said.'
Via Susan ****
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
